Stoke City, a Championship side, has made a busy start to this summer’s transfer window, aiming to improve on their 17th place finish from the 2023/24 season. Determined to build a stronger squad, the Potters have quickly secured two new signings.
The first addition is goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who joined from Rotherham United. Following this, Stoke signed center-back Ben Gibson after his release from Norwich City, with his deal reportedly worth £1 million per year.
Interestingly, Gibson might not be the only center-back Stoke is targeting. According to The Daily Telegraph journalist John Percy, QPR center-back Jake Clarke-Salter has emerged as a top target for Stoke this summer. Clarke-Salter, who joined QPR from Chelsea in the summer of 2022 after several loan spells, has made 49 appearances for the Rs and has become a key player at Loftus Road.
| Jake Clarke-Salter club career record – stats from Transfermarkt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| QPR | 49 | 1 | 1 |
| Vitesse Arnhem | 37 | 1 | 2 |
| Birmingham City | 34 | 1 | 1 |
| Coventry City | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Bristol Rovers | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Sunderland | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| As of 12th June 2024 | |||
With two years remaining on his contract, securing him with QPR until the end of the 2025/26 season, it’s suggested that the club would demand a fee of £5-7 million for Jake Clarke-Salter’s services this summer. Despite Stoke City’s recent acquisition of center-back Ben Gibson, QPR should still be concerned about the Potters’ interest in Clarke-Salter.
Stoke City might still need additional center-back signings. Even with Gibson’s arrival, Steven Schumacher’s squad may not be fully equipped in the central defense department. This summer, Stoke has already seen the departure of Ciaran Clark after his contract expired and the end of Luke McNally’s loan spell.
Therefore, while Stoke has signed Gibson, they have also lost two center-backs during the same period. Currently, Stoke has three senior natural center-backs under contract: Gibson, Ben Wilmot, and Michael Rose.
Given the rigors of a full season, it would be a significant challenge for any club to manage with just three center-backs. Stoke often plays with two center-backs, leaving them with only one player to cover both positions. Considering the likelihood of injuries and suspensions throughout the season, this situation would put them at a high risk of selection issues.
Hence, it would be prudent for the club to bring in another central defender to alleviate the pressure on their current options, providing more flexibility for rotation and reducing the risk of unwanted absences.
Because of that, a move to sign Clarke-Salter would surely still make sense for the Staffordshire club, to ensure they do have the sort of depth at centre back they need.
Indeed, given he is proven as a reliable option at this level, he would be a solid option to do that job for Schumacher’s side.
So with all that in mind, it seems that even with Gibson’s move to Stoke, it may be the case that QPR cannot rest easy when it comes to the future of Clarke-Salter, just yet.