"Hopefully he is happy where he is and we can hold on to him for a while before he goes on to bigger things."
Clarkson insists the speculation won't knock the players out of their stride.
The Motherwell team have used it to their advantage, ribbing the manager about the position and the possibility of him handing them international caps in the future.
It did not appear to be on anyone's mind as they swept Hearts aside 2-1 at the weekend.
Clarkson said: "The players don't think about it much and if we do we have a laugh and a joke about it. I am sure the gaffer is concentrating only on Motherwell.
"We are working hard for him in every game and our results prove that is the case.
"Since he arrived, he has done well so you can understand people talking about him when they are looking for a new manager.
"I just hope all the talk blows over.
There is no bad talk about that in the dressing room. We are just concentrating on our club and our football."
The former Scotland Under-21 international says the club and his own career have been transformed by McGhee.
Clarkson wasn't enjoying his football before the new boss replaced Maurice Malpas but now he's having the time of his life.
He said: "This is definitely the best spell of my career. I am enjoying my football a lot more.
"We are winning and everyone is getting on well. I enjoy coming to training because it is something different every day.
"I want to improve and it is a good place to be. There is a good laugh every day and you enjoy getting up to go to training.
"If you are enjoying yourself then you are relaxed. Now I go into games feeling calm.
"We work hard and still have fun during training with the gaffer and Scott Leitch. But they know when to work us hard too.
"The results and everything else are mainly down to the manager, who gave everyone a fresh start when he came in.
"From my point of view it's good because I am playing every week. If you're not playing every week you are not as happy or as confident.
"Leitchy has also helped turn things around .
"It is all positive and we're responding to all of that."
