Tottenham Hotspur manager Robert Vilahamn has expressed his desire to buy Manchester United’s Grace Clinton following the expiry of her loan deal this summer.
Clinton joined Tottenham on a season-long loan last August and has been instrumental for Spurs this term. The 21-year-old has started every league game, excluding the fixture against United as she was ineligible, under Vilahamn. She has provided four goals and three assists in the Women’s Super League and also broken into the England senior squad.
As things stand, United expect Clinton to be part of their plans next season. She will return to United at the end of the campaign and has another year left on her contract at her parent club.
“It’s a loan for the whole season,” Vilahamn told The Athletic. “Then she has another year with Man United. So she will go back to them. Then of course there will be a lot of clubs who might be interested. We would definitely be interested in her. But the main thing is she belongs to Manchester United and she has a contract with them. So whatever happens in the summer is that she goes back there and then the future will tell what happens.
“She cannot stay because she’s not a part of us next year. But if you ask me if I want to buy her, there would be a high potential I want to do that, yes, but right now we cannot discuss that because we are in the middle of the season. She’s only here on a loan. So ask me after the season.”
Clinton’s impressive club form also led England manager Sarina Wiegman to start the youngster in England’s European Championship qualifying opener against Sweden at Wembley last week which they drew 1-1. That was Clinton’s third cap after she made her England debut in February in a 7–2 friendly win over Austria in which she started and scored.
If selected and available, Clinton could next be in action for Tottenham’s FA Cup semi-final against Leicester on Sunday which will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
GO DEEPER
Off-ball pressing and on-ball craft – Clinton stakes her claim for England midfield spot
(James Chance/Getty Images)
