Ipswich Town are closing in on the signing of Arsenal defender Harry Clarke on a permanent basis. 

It's understood he will be become the third seven-figure fee addition of the Gamechanger ownership era following on from Leif Davis and Nathan Broadhead.

Clarke was born in Ipswich, came through the youth ranks at Playford Road but was lured to Arsenal at the age of 14 for a compensation fee reported to be around £100k.

The versatile and athletic youngster, now 21, is currently on loan at Championship club Stoke City where he has scored two goals in 10 starts and 10 substitute appearances so far this season. 

Blues boss Kieran McKenna revealed at this lunchtime's press conference that the club was close to another signing.

He said: "There’s nothing definite yet but we are working behind the scenes and think we’re not too far away from one possible addition, which we’d be really pleased about."

Clarke's previously had loan spells at League Two club Oldham (2020/21) and Scottish Premier League sides Ross County and Hibernian (both 2021/22). 

He signed a new contract at Arsenal in December 2019, the length of which was not disclosed. 

He will become Town's fourth signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of midfielder Massimo Luongo (Middlesbrough, free), striker George Hirst (Leicester City, loan) and forward Broadhead (Everton, £1.5m).

Clarke played as a forward and midfield player when coming through the youth ranks at Ipswich, but was converted into a centre-back by Arsenal.

This season he has been playing as a right-back or right wing-back for a Stoke side that currently sit four points above the relegation zone.

Aged under 21 at the start of last year, he will not count towards the Blues' 22-man senior squad limit.

McKenna will now have to pick an 18-man matchday squad from 25 fit first team players. 

Clarke will vie for a starting position with Janoi Donacien, Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess, George Edmundson and Richard Keogh.

The Blues, third in the League One table with 20 games to go, travel to Oxford United on Saturday and then host Morecambe next Tuesday night.