Beck Pascal

Tue 12 April 2022 7:45, UK

Steve Bruce has insisted West Brom will hold talks with defender Matt Clarke regarding his Hawthorns’ future, according to reports by Express & Star.

With only 12 months remaining on his Brighton & Hove Albion contract, the 25-year-old is expected to leave the Premier League side permanently in the summer.

The Baggies are keen on signing the former Portsmouth man but they may need to carry out a “major overhaul” with other central defenders set to be axed before they can do so.

“He (Clarke) has done really well,” Bruce told Express & Star.

“He has been, arguably, since I’ve walked through the door – he’s been our best player so I’m really, really, happy for him.

“All those conversations – it’s all about the future. What is going to happen in the future is the big thing and we’ll have those talks.”

Sensible

It is imperative that Bruce hits the ground running next season and having a player who has performed as well as Clarke has under the former Newcastle boss still at the club would go a long way in ensuring that.

The 25-year-old has been instrumental since February, miles better than any other Albion defender.

He knows he is playing for a place in the team next season with his loan deal up at the end of the season and it not being likely he will have a place with the Seagulls.

Clarke has found his feet at West Brom now and he would much rather be fighting for Premier League promotion next season at the Hawthorns rather than being loaned out to another club where things might not go as well.

Therefore, it makes sense for him to sign a permanent deal with the Baggies with it likely to be his best option.

It would be a very low-risk move with Clarke an already established member of the Albion squad, rather than looking elsewhere for replacements.

In other West Brom news, Joe Chapman shares “bizarre” Baggies scenes that left Bruce fuming.

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