Stoke City plotting seven-figure QPR transfer raid | OneFootball

Stoke City are targeting a summer transfer move for QPR defender Jake Clarke-Salter.

That's according to The Daily Telegraph journalist, John Percy, who says that the 26-year-old could also attract interest from elsewhere.

The defender joined the Hoops back in the summer of 2022, signing from Chelsea after numerous loan spells out on loan with other clubs.

Since completing his move to Loftus Road, Clarke-Salter has made 49 appearances in all competitions for the R's, having been hampered by injuries at time during his time with the club.

Even so, it seems that with the transfer market now on the verge of opening once again, he could well be a man in demand over the course of the coming months.

Stoke City keen on Jake Clarke-Salter

As per this latest update, Stoke are now planning a move for Clarke-Salter, with the window soon set to open again as the season draws to a close.

It is thought that the Potters are keen to strengthen in a number of areas this summer, as Steven Schumacher's side look to push further up the table next season.

As a result, Clarke-Salter has apparently now been identified as a top target for the Potters ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

However, it is also stated that there is a chance other clubs, including some that are currently playing in the Premier League, could also take an interest in the defender.

According to this update, it would likely cost £5-7million to sign the 26-year-old. There are still two years remaining on Clarke-Salter's contract with QPR.

That secures his future at Loftus Road until the end of the 2025/26 season, and ensures that QPR will have some scope to negotiate any offer that comes in during the summer.

QPR and Stoke looking to improve next season

Both QPR and Stoke will no doubt be keen to put the current campaign behind them, with both spending much of it fighting relegation from the Championship.

However, strong finishes to the campaign did ensure they were successful with that. Both clubs fnished with 56 points, six clear of the relegation zone, with Stoke 17th and QPR 18th in the final standings.

Both will therefore once again be playing second-tier football once again next season, where their aims will no doubt be much higher.

Clarke-Salter could be a good signing for Stoke

It does look as though it would be sensible for Stoke to target a player such as Clarke-Salter in the summer window.

With Luke McNally and on loan from Burnley, and Ciaran Clark out of contract in the summer, the Potters are going to find themselves short on options in the centre of defence.

Clarke-Salter will therefore provide them with some useful depth in that position, and bring with him plenty of Championship experience that ought to make him a reliable option as well. At his age though, he would still have plenty to offer for years to come.

However, if Stoke are looking to add in a number of positions this summer, it will be interesting to see if they can afford this fee.

It is a rather large one for a Championship club to be paying for an individual player, and you wonder how much it could eat into the budget, when the Potters need to invest in other targets as well.

With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how things play out when it comes to the future of Clarke-Salter over the course of the next few months.