Following an extremely impressive National League season, Altrincham may lose Chris Conn-Clarke due to increased interest from Wigan Athletic and other clubs.
According to Alan Nixon’s Patreon site, Ipswich Town, Peterborough United, Portsmouth, and Mansfield Town are all interested in signing Conn-Clarke. To add to the mounting anticipation for the 22-year-old, Wigan have expressed a desire to sign him this summer.
Following Ipswich’s recent elevation to the Premier League, the League One club may struggle to compete with them. If an offer is made, the Tractor Boys will almost certainly make more guarantees to the Altrincham player.
However, Wigan are geographically closest to Conn-Clarke, so that aspect of the pursuit favors them. The former Burnley young graduate has finally been given a continuous platform to showcase his abilities in the National League, and he is deservedly attracting the attention of numerous clubs. Since joining the Greater Manchester club in June 2023, Conn-Clarke has 22 goals in 50 appearances, averaging nearly one every other game.
Following disappointing spells at Chorley, Fleetwood Town, and Waterford before joining the Robins, it is encouraging to see the 22-year-old develop into a regular starter for his new club.
The Lancashire club might add some real quality to an already formidable offensive line ahead of a key League One season under Shaun Maloney. The Latics enjoyed a good finish to the season, losing only two of their last ten league games.
Huge 2-1 victories over Lincoln City and Portsmouth have given fans reason to be optimistic about next season. The addition of Conn-Clarke’s attacking profile may bolster that belief.
With increased funds following the Posh and Ipswich’s elevation to the Premier League and Championship, respectively, the Lancashire side may face stiff competition from other bidders. The Tractor Boys’ reward for their outstanding performance will probably outweigh any bid the Latics make for the 22-year-old.
Writer’s view
It is unclear who would be the best club for Conn-Clarke. While Wigan makes sense from an immediate first-team football standpoint, the opportunity to break through and become a star at Ipswich or Peterborough appears too wonderful to pass up. Obviously, both teams would explore for loan agreements to help the Northern Irishman improve. However, landing in Wigan and moving up from the National League to League One appears to be a wise move. The disparity between the two levels is undeniable, but it is reasonable for a player of Conn-Clarke’s caliber. He didn’t get a professional deal with Burnley by luck.
