Huddersfield Town player may have to seek transfer exit as Preston North End raid eyed up | OneFootball

Jack Whatmough could be Huddersfield's fifth centre-back signing this summer, and Radinio Balker may be left by the wayside

Huddersfield Town's exodus of players at the end of their contracts following the culmination of the 2024/25 season meant that Lee Grant has had to almost build a new squad from scratch at the Accu Stadium this summer.

The Terriers were left arguably the lightest in defence, with Brodie Spencer and Radino Balker the only central defenders in the squad when Grant took over in late May.

So, understandably, the new Huddersfield manager has gone out and shored up their back-line, bringing in Josh Feeney on loan from Aston Villa and Sean Roughan, Murray Wallace and Joe Low in on permanent transfers - completely revamping the centre-back department at the club.

But it seems that Grant isn't done with the central defender signings, as Alan Nixon has reported that Preston North End's Jack Whatmough is on his radar, too.

If a fifth centre-back is signed this summer, then Balker, who was one of only two recognised players in the squad a month ago in his position, may find his minutes limited even more next season, to the point where a sale could be on the cards before the 2025/26 campaign begins.

Radinio Balker's time at Huddersfield could be drawing to a close after Jack Whatmough links

At 28, Jack Whatmough could see Huddersfield as an attractive offer as, whilst the competition for his position is high, you'd expect him to play the majority of games, unlike at Preston North End, where he has featured in less than half of the Championship fixtures in both his campaigns so far.

Arguably, Balker is already fifth in-line at Huddersfield following the centre-back arrivals at the John Smith's Stadium this summer, with the new signings providing plenty of room to grow and improve or, in Murray Wallace's case, bags of experience in the Championship upon his return to West Yorkshire.

And if Huddersfield bring in Whatmough, another central defender who many believe is currently operating at Championship level, Balker stands to fall even further down the pecking order, despite only arriving 18 months ago.

Unfortunately, Balker never did much in his limited game time last season to truly show that he's at the standard of a side expected to challenge atop League One, with his per-90-minute stats ranking among the middle of the pack in terms of third-tier centre backs - injuries have also halted the defender's ability to develop and play regularly.

So, the writing could already be on the wall for the Surinamese defender at Huddersfield.

Even if Grant opts for a three central defender formation on the pitch, Balker would still arguably be too far down the pecking order to warrant staying, and he may find himself sold to open up some funds for the Terriers to reinvest elsewhere.

Change of scenery may be needed for Radinio Balker after a tough 18 months at Huddersfield Town

Radinio Balker's move from FC Groningen in Holland to Huddersfield Town in January 2024 hasn't been as successful as anyone associated with the club would have hoped for.

The 26-year-old was unable to help his new side avoid relegation from the Championship, but he only featured in seven of the 19 league games following his arrival, missing the final few games of the 2023-24 season with a thigh issue.

Then, injury plagued his first full season at the John Smith's Stadium, as he suffered a fractured ankle in a pre-season match, which kept him out until January. It was at the turn of the new year that the Terriers' form began to take an unwanted nose dive, leading to their 10th-placed finish.

Balker featured in just four wins this season, and ended the campaign in the treatment room too, after he was taken off early in a 2-1 defeat to Cambridge United on Good Friday.

Ultimately, a new club may be necessary for the 26-year-old just to get things back on track. It hasn't worked out for Balker at Huddersfield, and the club seem ready to move ahead without him in their immediate plans.