Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday are among the Championship clubs keen to sign Jake Clarke-Salter from Chelsea, according to Goal.
Another year, another short-term exit for a man who, in 14 years in west London, has managed a grand total of one senior appearance.
Clarke-Salter may be only 23 years old but is already an established member of Chelsea’s seemingly endless legion of perennial loanees.
The former England U21 international has had spells at Bristol Rovers, Sunderland, Vitesse Arnhem and Birmingham City since 2016 and, according to Goal, he looks destined to spend 2020/21 away from his parent club too.
Such is Clarke-Salter’s desire to remain in England, he has turned down the chance to play Champions League football at Belgian title-winners Brugge.
Trabzonspor were also snubbed by a man on the radar of Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and former employers Birmingham.
The smart money, however, is on Derby winning the race – and not just because Phillip Cocu’s side has looked worryingly slack at the back since the new season got under way. The team conceded four goals against Blackburn and two each at the hands of Luton and Reading.
Cocu’s predecessor, after all, was none other than current Chelsea manager Frank Lampard.
However, it was another Chelsea legend who tipped Clark-Salter to thrive in the famous blue shirt of the five-time Premier League champions.
“Jake has a great attitude,” John Terry once told the Standard. “I remember watching him a couple of years ago being in control of the game and a really vocal player. He reminds me a bit of myself.”
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