Chelsea have announced that Jake Clarke-Salter will be leaving the club on a free transfer this summer – amid reports he is a target for Leeds. The defender’s contract ends on June 30.
The 24-year-old has spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Championship side Coventry City. Branded “outstanding” by Coventry manager Mark Robins, helping his side keep eight clean sheets in 31 appearances.
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Reports in May claim that Leeds had made an enquiry to sign the 12-time England Under-21 international. Now, he is a free agent and if Leeds are still interested, they could sign the defender on a free transfer.
Indeed, Clarke-Salter is one of four players Chelsea have confirmed will be leaving on a free. He joins Andreas Christensen – who is set to join Barcelona – Danny Drinkwater and Charly Musonda in leaving the club.
Leeds target Clarke-Salter leaving Chelsea on a free
Clarke-Salter is a talent. At 24, he is hardly a young talent, either. He is proven now at Championship level and had it not been for a couple of injuries, he would have started every single game for Coventry.
There was no chance of him making it at Chelsea – but do Leeds need him? There is no doubt he could improve a Premier League side, but Leeds have more than four options in the middle of the defence.
Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Diego Llorente, Robin Koch, Charlie Cresswell and even Luke Ayling are options. Clarke-Salter is a good signing on a free, but Leeds simply do not need him.
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