York City are pushing to land Peterborough United attacking midfielder Chris Conn-Clarke on loan as Stuart Maynard looks to add cutting edge to his frontline.
The National League side are understood to be willing to pay a loan fee plus substantial wages and bonuses to beat rival bidders to the 23-year-old’s signature.
Conn-Clarke joined Peterborough from Altrincham in 2024 after a standout National League campaign, but his first year at the Weston Homes Stadium failed to ignite and a temporary move is now on the table. With Darren Ferguson focused on tightening Posh’s League One squad, York sense an opportunity to recruit a proven fifth-tier match-winner.
York’s pitch: minutes, responsibility and a central role
Maynard’s sales job is clear: regular starts in his preferred No 10 position and a licence to be the creative hub. York’s proposal includes covering a significant chunk of the player’s salary along with appearance-related incentives, underlining how highly they rate the Belfast-born schemer. The Minstermen believe Conn-Clarke’s ability to take the ball on the half-turn, carry at pace and shoot early would immediately raise their shot quality and set-piece threat.
For the player, the attraction is obvious. Conn-Clarke’s Altrincham peak, National League Player of the Season and a haul that showcased both goals and assists, came when a manager built patterns around his strengths. York’s staff view him as a zone-14 problem-solver who can play between lines or wider as an inverted creator, with licence to drift and combine. If the structure gives him runners beyond the ball, he can supply final-third volume that York have lacked in tight games.
Peterborough’s stance and the timeline
Ferguson has used pre-season and early cup ties to assess options, and Conn-Clarke’s recent involvement with development fixtures has only fuelled speculation about a loan exit. Posh would prefer any deal to include an option to recall in January, while York want security through the winter to avoid losing a focal point mid-push.
With multiple National League clubs circling, negotiations are expected to focus on game-time guarantees and the structure of add-ons tied to promotion and appearances.
Writer’s View
On fit, this is close to ideal. York need a ball-dominant creator who can tilt matches; Conn-Clarke needs a stage that makes him the main act. The risk lies in balance: hand him the keys and you must support him with runners, pressing legs and full-backs that give him angles, otherwise the burden becomes predictable.
If Maynard commits to that framework, this loan has genuine ceiling-raising potential. For Peterborough, a well-chosen loan could restore value and rhythm; for York, it could be the difference between chasing play-offs and setting the pace.
