Celtic have been mentioned in a transfer report on English defender Jake Clarke-Salter. The Queens Park Rangers centre-back has been in great form this season and it has alerted other clubs of his value.
Premier League trio, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Burnley are thought to be monitoring the situation closely, with the Scottish Champions also name-checked in The Sun south of the border.
Having somewhat of a nomadic career to date in the game, Clarke-Salter has played for numerous clubs in English football including Coventry, Sunderland, Birmingham and Bristol Rovers – all on-loan from his former parent club Chelsea where he came through the Stamford Bridge side’s youth academy. He’s eventually found a settled home in QPR since 2022 and has proven his worth in the Championship.
The player is a left-footed central defender and could be one that is being watched closely by Brendan Rodgers and the recruitment team at Lennoxtown with a view to bringing him in this summer transfer window. Liam Scales has been deployed at that side of the centre of defence this season and has performed admirably, however, it’s clear Celtic need an upgrade if they are to push on after what has been a frustrating campaign so far, but one with a happy ending still possible.
Last summer’s recruitment has laid bare substantial issues within the club structure and has really come home to roost once again for the manager and supporters. A root and branch change must take place so that we might move forward together in a cohesive and collective manner. With the boss not happy with the lack of quality this season, you can be sure he will be demanding improvements are made ahead of next year’s campaign.
Rodgers is likely to return to English football, the market he knows best and Jake Clarke-Salter story reminds us of Cameron Carter-Vickers career south of the border before he found a proper footballing home at Celtic.
This is certainly one to watch.
Paul Gillespie
