The EFL Hub understands York City have moved to the front of the queue to sign Peterborough United playmaker Chris Conn-Clarke on loan.
Stuart Maynard wants the 23-year-old to spearhead his attack, and talks are advancing over a deal built around minutes, responsibility and a leading role.
York’s proposal: the keys to No 10
Sources have told EFL Hub that York are prepared to table a competitive package: a loan fee plus substantial wages and appearance-related bonuses to beat rival National League suitors. The pitch is simple and deliberate: Conn-Clarke starts regularly in his preferred No 10 slot, with licence to be the creative hub and primary set-piece threat. Maynard believes the Belfast-born midfielder’s half-turn receiving, carrying power and early shooting will lift York’s shot quality immediately.
For the player, the appeal is obvious. Conn-Clarke’s outstanding Altrincham season, when he was named National League Player of the Season, came with a team built around his strengths. York’s staff view him as a zone-14 problem-solver who can drift wide as an inverted creator, provided he has runners beyond the ball. With that structure, the Minstermen expect him to deliver the final-third volume they have lacked in tight games.
Peterborough stance and deal mechanics
Conn-Clarke joined Peterborough from Altrincham in 2024 after a breakout campaign but struggled to ignite across 2024/25. Darren Ferguson is reshaping his League One group and is open to a loan in the right conditions.
We’re told Posh would prefer a January recall option and performance triggers; York want security through the winter to avoid losing a focal point mid-push. Game-time guarantees and add-ons tied to appearances and promotion are central to negotiations.
Multiple National League clubs have registered interest, but York’s willingness to invest and to build the attack around him has placed them in pole position. If a compromise is struck on recall and incentives, a deal could follow swiftly. Until paperwork is complete, Posh will keep options open; York, for their part, are acting like a club intent on landing their top target.
Site Opinion
This is the right player at the right moment. York need a conductor, and Conn-Clarke needs a stage where he’s the main act. The risk is balance. Hand him the keys and you must surround him with runners and pressing legs or the plan becomes predictable.
Get the structure right and this loan is ceiling-raising. For Peterborough, a tailored spell restores rhythm and value; for York, it could be the difference between chasing the play-offs and setting the pace.
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