Crystal Palace are reportedly keen on signing 26-year-old Jake Clarke-Salter from Queens Park Rangers in the summer transfer window.
A report from Football Insider has claimed that Crystal Palace will compete with the likes of Burnley, Bournemouth and Celtic in a four-way battle to sign former Chelsea academy prospect Jake Clarke-Salter.
The 26-year-old central defender has done quite well in the EFL Championship with Queens Park Rangers, and it will be interesting to see if Crystal Palace can secure his services.
The Eagles will need to bring in defensive reinforcements at the end of the season, especially if Marc Guehi ends up leaving the club. The England international has been linked with an exit from Crystal Palace in the summer. A number of top English clubs are keen on securing his services this summer.
Clark-Salter could prove to be a solid acquisition. He is well-settled in English football and will be desperate to make his mark in the top flight. The opportunity to join Crystal Palace will be an attractive one for him, and he will look to hit the ground running and make an instant impact. He could form a quality partnership with Joachim Andersen next season.
QPR could demand a premium for Clarke-Salter
Queens Park Rangers signed the player on a free transfer in 2022, and they will look to make a substantial profit on him. He has a contract with them until 2026, meaning they will not want to let him leave for a reasonable price. It remains to be seen whether Crystal Palace are ready to break the bank for him in the summer.
Clubs like Bournemouth and Celtic will be attractive destinations for the 26-year-old defender as well. However, Burnley might not be an appealing option given the fact that they are one of the favourites to go down to the Championship at the end of the season.
Clarke-Salter has proven himself in the Championship, and he will want to do well in the Premier League now. He will want to join a top flight club in the summer and a move to Crystal Palace would be quite attractive for the player. The Eagles have not been at their best this season, and they are currently 14th in the league table.
They will hope to bounce back strongly next year and signing quality players should be a top priority for them. For now, though, the former Chelsea academy prospect has emerged as a viable target for Crystal Palace amid their search for a centre-back.
