Crystal Palace, Celtic and Wolves dealt killer blow in £8m pursuit of 'cultured' Championship star

Crystal Palace, Wolves and Celtic transfer target Jake Clarke-Salter has put pen to paper on a long-term QPR contract in a blow to any potential suitors after a summer of interest in the defender's services.

The 27-year-old impressed at Loftus Road last season despite the club's relegation battle. As a result, several Premier League and Scottish Premiership sides were said to be looking at a deal to sign the centre-back.

Crystal Palace and Wolves linked with £8m transfer

The former Chelsea man was linked with an exit from QPR all summer with Crystal Palace and Wolves emerging as the lead candidates, the former looking to replace Joachim Andersen and the latter in need of a new face having flogged Max Kilman to West Ham for £40 million. The Mirror had reported that an £8 million deal was in the offing for Clarke-Salter.

However, QPR managed to hold on to their defender and now look to be keeping the player in West London for the foreseeable future. Confirming the 'new long-term contract' via the club's official website on Monday evening, QPR labelled the 'cultured' defender a 'crucial' part of Marti Cifuentes' set-up.

‘Really happy’ - Clake-Salter signs new QPR contract

Clarke-Salter said: “I’m really happy and really excited for the future, too. Hopefully, we can continue to build on the good work that’s taken place since Marti came in last season.

“Everyone around the club and around the EFL can see how much we’ve improved as a club since the gaffer came in, how the players have responded to him – that applies to Christian too, you can see how everything around the place has come on. There have been massive changes and it’s also the little, finer details that perhaps you don’t see as well.”

Before news of the extension, it would not have been a surprise to see transfer rumours reignite come January but any remaining Crystal Palace and Wolves hopes of signing the player have now been handed a significant blow.

Clarke-Salter's previous deal was due to expire in the summer of 2026, which could have pressured the club to cash in over the next 12 months or risk losing him as a free agent.

The defender joined QPR from Chelsea in 2022 and does have Premier League experience to his name, having made a short cameo for The Blues against Aston Villa in 2016. Clarke-Salter is a regular under Cifuentes but was absent from the matchday squad against Blackburn Rovers last time out.