Contract talks ongoing with Walsall winger Wes McDonald

Wes McDonald, Luke Little and Jack Kiersey are all on short-term deals with the club which are believed to be up in January.

Speaking to the Express & Star earlier this month, assistant manager Brian Dutton said that contract talks with McDonald were 'positive' but there was nothing 'substantial' with the winger putting in some impressive displays.

But while Clarke has been coy with details on player negotiations, he did confirm that talks have been ongoing with McDonald for 'four or five weeks.'

"Negotiations with players I like to keep to myself," he said.

"We've been speaking to Wes for about four or five weeks.

"He's obviously doing well, we want him to stay.

"I'm not going to publicly come out just to please people and say this is what we're doing.

"We want him to stay.

"He's enjoying his football so let's hope he does.

"But at the end of the day, we're like any other football club and we can go to a certain level.

"But he's doing well.

"I'm well aware of the players that deserve rewards but then it becomes a negotiation period that's been going on for a few weeks now.

"We'll see how we go on those and the fans will be the first to hear about it in the January window.

"One or two players that are on short term contracts all of a sudden want to be millionaires overnight.

"We have to make sure that we're a football club that do things sensibly.

"Everybody wants to keep hold of your better players, everybody wants to see new players coming to the club."

In his search for January additions, Clarke has been spotted watching academy talents at nearby clubs such as Wolves and Villa.

And in response to a question about his time scouting, Clarke insisted he has the right contacts to make additions to his side.

"My contacts book is massive," he added.

"I have access to a lot of clubs, a contacts book built up over a period of time.

"There's no football club that I can't get in to see what's happening at that club and the available players.

"You're working through a massive list and narrowing it down."