Can reported Leeds United target Jake Clarke-Salter match the performances Fikayo Tomori produced at Derby County?

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Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori was on-loan at Derby County last season, whilst his club teammate Jake Clarke-Salter could be heading to Leeds United this summer.

Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori was part of that Derby County team that knocked Leeds United out of the race for the Premier League last season, as yet another Stamford Bridge defender is now being touted for a move to the Championship this summer.

The Sun have claimed that Leeds United are interested in signing Jake Clarke-Salter on a season-long loan, as Marcelo Bielsa aims to bolster his defensive options ahead of the new season.

If Clarke-Salter does move to Elland Road, and if he can match the performances that Tomori produced at Pride Park last season, then Leeds will benefit massively from his presence in the team.

Centre-back Tomori was a key part of the Derby team that reached the play-off final under Frank Lampard, who could now be heading to Chelsea.

Lampard changed Derby’s style dramatically last season and Tomori played a huge part in that change. He showcased his defensive strengths, his ability to pick out a pass and carry the ball out from the back when need be.

Clarke-Salter is built from the same cloth as his Chelsea teammate and if he can somehow match, or even better the performances of Tomori at Elland Road then the Leeds fans will be in for a real treat.

Bielsa seemingly has a strong starting XI, but it’s his squad as a whole that he needs to add to and securing the signature of someone like Clarke-Salter will help his cause.

Last season, Bielsa had to drop Kalvin Phillips in the backline when injuries hit his squad, and whilst the 23-year-old is talented enough to fill that role, Bielsa will be wanting him to concentrate on his specialist position.

Someone like Clarke-Salter can add more bite and effectiveness to Leeds’ defensive line. Simply put, he is a player they should be pursuing because like Aston Villa and Derby showed last season, loan signings can work an absolute treat if it’s used correctly.