EXCLUSIVE: Ipswich and Portsmouth eye Altrincham sensation

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 8 May 2024 06:01 CDT
5 min read

Ipswich Town, Mansfield Town, Peterborough and Portsmouth are all monitoring the development of Altrincham attacker Chris Conn-Clarke, FootballTransfers can reveal.

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The Robins’ star, who joined in a club-record move from Fleetwood Town last summer, has drawn the attention of several clubs following his spellbinding inaugural campaign with Altrincham.

Conn-Clarke was included in the Vanarama National League Team of the Season for 2023/24 after netting 23 goals from the No.10 position for the Greater Manchester club.

The 22-year-old’s sublime displays have also caught the attention of the Northern Ireland national squad, with the youngster previously having been part of the Under-21s setup.

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Conn-Clarke finished as the fourth top goal-scorer in the National League, as well as providing an impressive 12 assists for his side.

We are told that newly-promoted Ipswich are keen on the Altrincham man, while Mansfield and Portsmouth believe that he can slot into their first-team ahead of next season.

Conn-Clarke is contracted to Altrincham until 2026 but is expected to depart Moss Lane in the forthcoming window.

Altrincham set for another push

The Robins reached the play-offs of the National League this season after a fourth-place finish.

Manager Phil Parkinson has claimed that he is already turning his sights towards another promotion push next term.

He told The Messenger: “To reach the play-off semi-finals in our second season as a professional club is phenomenal. Like a fairytale, only without a happy ending.We are going in the right direction, but we have to keep building.

“To keep moving forward, we are going to have to reinvest in the squad.

“We don’t have an embarrassment of riches, but if we lose one or two, the players coming in must be at least as good, if not better.”