Rafa Benitez signing will leave Newcastle United - he’s open to joining Premier League-bound club

Ciaran Clark will leave Newcastle United permanently this summer when his contract officially comes to an end.

The 33-year-old last featured for the Magpies in January 2022 and has spent this campaign on loan at Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United.

Clark was left out of Newcastle’s 25-man Premier League squad for the second half of last season. And unfortunately for the central defender, injuries have restricted him to just 11 appearances for the Blades.

Despite a small number of outings, Clark has impressed Sheffield United’s coaching staff - and he marked what could prove to be a timely return with a headed goal in the 4-1 win over Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.

“I’m not thinking about that yet [his future],” Clark said. “I haven’t thought about that at all. I’m just focused on training and seeing this season through and seeing what happens in the summer.”

Asked if he had spoken to Newcastle, Clark replied: “I haven’t spoken to anyone; literally nothing and I’m happy with that.

“I’m not bothered to be honest, I just want to get this season finished off and hopefully, it’ll be a good one. I’m just concentrating on each game and that’s all I do.”

With the Blades closing in a return to the Premier League after a two-year absence, Clark admits he is open to a permanent move to Bramall Lane.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here, I really have,” Clark told the Sheffield Star. “It’s a good group of lads and the people are top-class.

“Everyone around the building made me feel welcome straight away so obviously I would be [open to join permanently], but I’m going to focus on the next couple of games and training. And doing whatever I can, and we can, to see the job through.”

Clark was signed for Newcastle by Rafa Benitez in 2016 and in his first season helped the club achieve immediate promotion back to England’s top-flight. In total, the former Aston Villa man appeared 129 times.

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