Carlton Palmer believes Queens Park Rangers would find it difficult to turn down an offer of £10 million for defender Jake Clarke-Salter.
The 26-year-old has been an integral part of the R’s recent revival from the relegation zone, having helped Marti Cifuentes side five of their last eight Championship games, including keeping three clean sheets.
Clarke-Salter is under contract at Loftus Road until the summer of 2026, but his performances during the run-in have seen the former Chelsea academy graduate attract interest from other sides in the English football pyramid.
Having joined from Stamford Bridge on a free transfer in 2022, the defender arrived with lots of anticipation and excitement, but would spend much of his first season in W12 on the sidelines.
However, this season the R’s faithful have seen the full potential of the player they signed the season prior.
He has featured 29 times this term, keeping eight clean sheets in those appearances, and has formed a great understanding alongside experienced defender, Steve Cook, with the pair becoming crucial to their survival hopes in the second tier.
| Jake Clarke-Salter’s QPR statistics this season as per Transfermarkt and FotMob | |
| Apps | 29 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Minutes played | 2,339 |
| Clean sheets | 8 |
| Tackles won per 90 | 62.9% |
| Aerial duels won | 68.3% |
| Pass accuracy | 83.6% |
But unfortunately for QPR fans, that form has attracted interest in the 26-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window opening in a few months’ time.
It has been reported that a number of Premier League clubs inclufding Wolves and Burnley, along with the likes of Ipswich Town and Celtic are all keen for Clarke-Salter’s signature.
With the offer of playing top flight or even Champions League football, the defender may look to leave the R’s given the opportunity may be too good to miss, not just for him, but financially for the club too.
Carlton Palmer gives Jake Clarke-Salter verdict following transfer interest
Given the latest rumours surrounding the interest in Clarke-Salter’s future at the club, former England midfielder, Carlton Palmer, has given his verdict on the situation.
The 58-year-old explained the importance of the defender’s form in QPR’s recent rise up the Championship table, but insisted an offer in the region of £10 million would be too good to turn down, and would allow Marti Cifuentes to build a squad suited to his style for next season.
“Jake Clarke-Salter is having a really good season at Queens Park Rangers,” Palmer said exclusively to FLW.
“He’s back to full fitness and playing very well and has been influential in Cifuentes’ side, seeing them pull away from the relegation places.
“QPR three or four months ago were bang in relegation trouble and Cifuentes has done well. One of those players who has benefited from that is Jake Clarke-Salter.
“A host of Premier League clubs as well as the likes of Celtic, Ipswich Town and Burnley most recently have been linked with the player’s name.
“Of course, QPR won’t want to sell him but given their financial situation, a bid of over £10m for the 26-year-old is too good of an opportunity for QPR to turn down and that will give Cifuentes the chance to rebuild the squad to get QPR to the other end of the table next season.
“With that in mind, he won’t want to lose the likes of Jake Clarke-Salter, but if an offer was to come in that region of around £10 million, that would of course be something the club will have to look at because it would help them rebuild the squad next season and to avoid any kind of trouble and maybe push towards the play-offs.
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