Clarke and Mehmeti Linked With Loan Moves
Sunday, 23rd Aug 2026 13:07
Blues forwards Jack Clarke and Anis Mehmeti are being linked with loan moves to the Championship.
According to [Alan Nixon](https://www.patreon.com/ReluctantNicko/posts/derby-in-battle-167406887?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share), Middlesbrough are keen on Clarke, who scored Town’s winning goal off the bench against his old club Sunderland yesterday.
Mehmeti is said to be a target of Derby County along with a number of other second-tier sides, with Wrexham and Sheffield United claimed to be among them by some sources.
The Albanian international was left out of the squad for yesterday’s match but with manager Gary O’Neil suggesting that the 25-year-old will get his chance at some stage.
“I don’t know what the rest of the window’s going to bring in terms of ins or outs, really. I’m sure there will be some movement,” O’Neil said.
“Anis Mehmeti missed out today and he’s been excellent for me in pre-season, he’s worked his socks off every day. It was a really tough call that one to have to make because I couldn’t have asked any more of him.
“The unfortunate part of the job is that you have to upset people and disappoint people sometimes.
“But he was still right there with the lads at the end, which shows what the group’s like. Anis is a top boy, I’ve loved working with him so far and I’m sure he’ll have moments where he helps us.”
However, Town have four attackers who would see the left flank their favoured or one of their favoured roles, so at least one may well move on before the transfer window closes, although it remains to be seen how long Jaden Philogene may be sidelined for having picked up an ankle injury in the pre-season friendly at Union Berlin.
Clarke was in the squad ahead of Mehmeti yesterday and made his mark by scoring his first Premier League goal to win the match against the Black Cats in the final scheduled minute and would appear less likely to move on than Mehmeti.
_Photo: Matchday Images_