QPR should plot Huddersfield Town raid if Clarke-Salter departs amid Stoke interest: View | OneFootball

The Hoops have spent the majority of the season in the relegation zone, but went into the final day with safety secured after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Leeds United.

Whilst their attack took the plaudits against Leeds. It's their defence that's been the main reason behind them staying up, with their clean sheet against Leeds their 13th of the season - the joint eighth-highest figure in the Championship.

It has now led centre-half Clarke-Salter to become the subject of interest from several clubs, and QPR look set to brace themselves for a number of offers.

The former Chelsea academy graduate joined QPR from their west London rivals in 2022 and has helped keep the R's in the Championship over the last two seasons.

His performances have now garnered the attention of clubs within the Championship and the Premier League, according to the Daily Telegraph's John Percy, and at the start of April, The Sun claimed that Crystal Palace, Burnley, Wolves, Celtic and Ipswich were all keen on the ex-Chelsea man.

Stoke City - who were QPR's relegation rivals for much of the Championship season - are now said to have the left-footer near the top of their transfer targets, but with two years still remaining on his deal, QPR are expected to ask for between £5 million and £7 million for the 26-year-old.

If an offer of that magnitude comes in for the Englishman, QPR would be smart to start identifying a replacement, and they couldn't do much better than raiding relegated Huddersfield Town for centre-back Michal Helik.

Likely available at a cut-price figure following Huddersfield's relegation to League One, Helik offers experience and leadership to a QPR team looking to build next season under Marti Cifuentes.

This summer could be the ideal time for QPR to cash in on Jake Clarke-Salter

Clarke-Salter has shown glimpses of quality throughout the season, becoming a reliable option under Cifuentes and he has seemingly finally gotten over past fitness struggles.

But at the reported fee that the Hoops want for his services, QPR could reinvest said sums wisely as they look to build a squad in Cifuentes' image.

Clarke-Salter has also struggled with injuries at times during his QPR career and did so similarly at former club Birmingham City.

With two years remaining on his deal, QPR are primed to make a generous return on the defender should they sell him this summer and, whilst he's proven to be a key part of the squad, he's not irreplaceable.

QPR - like Stoke City who have been touted with interest in Clarke-Salter - are looking to push on next season after struggling towards the bottom half of the table.

But a deal at the price reported serves QPR far better than it would Stoke, who'd be outlaying a large chunk of their budget on a player who has struggled to put together a full season of football during his career.

Michal Helik offers QPR a cut-price alternative to Jake Clarke-Salter

Helik was one of the few players to come out of Huddersfield's season with any credibility.

The Terriers' relegation was confirmed on the final day of the season after a 2-0 loss away to Ipswich Town, but their fate was sealed long before they travelled to Portman Road after averaging less than a point per game throughout the season.

Helik was a mainstay in a defence that conceded 77 goals, but his impact in the opposition box saw him become a useful offensive option for a goal-shy Huddersfield side.

The centre-back scored nine goals in 41 appearances for Huddersfield and, whilst he didn't always cover himself in glory defensively as part of a unit that leaked plenty, his work with Barnsley previously - taking them to the Championship play-offs in 2021 - stands as proof of his ability.

Heilk will likely be available at a fraction of his market value following Huddersfield's relegation and the towering centre-half, who also captained the Terriers for the final six games of the season, offers QPR an experienced cut-price replacement for Clarke-Salter.

There is the chance that no-one comes in for Clarke-Salter at the price that the QPR hierarchy want, and therefore he remains in West London, but if offered the chance of a Premier League move this summer, he will surely push to be given a chance in the top flight.

Should that happen, then QPR ought to be on to Huddersfield for Helik, although there's likely going to be plenty of suitors for the Poland international.