Crystal Palace ready £8m QPR bid to beat Wolves and Celtic to coup

Crystal Palace are set to compete with Premier League rivals Wolves for the transfer of in-demand Crystal Palace centre-back Jake Clarke-Salter this summer.

Gary O'Neil's side have been linked with interest in the player for weeks having sold star defender Max Kilman to West Ham for £40 million during the summer transfer window. Over the weekend, transfer reporter Darren Witcoop reported that Clarke-Salter very much remains a target for Wolves. Celtic have also been named as potential suitors this summer.

However, a new club may have entered the race with The Mirror reporting that the R's man 'has emerged as an £8 million target after impressing in the Championship' for Crystal Palace. The South London club are facing a fight to keep hold of England international Marc Guehi this summer with Liverpool, Arsenal and even Real Madrid linked with a move for the 24-year-old.

Guehi made 25 top flight appearances for the Eagles last season, missing a chunk of the season between February and April due to a knee injury. The defender proved his abilities for England at Euro 2024 this summer and any exit from Selhurst Park would leave a hole that needs filling.

According to The Mirror, Clarke-Salter could be the candidate to do that. The former Chelsea youngster, who made 23 Championship appearances for the R's last season, was a shining light in a struggle of a season for QPR.

Clarke-Salter 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. It is thought that QPR are willing to cash in on the player this summer, with an £8 million fee representing a healthy profit having signed the defender on a free transfer. The player has two years left on his current Loftus Road deal.

The Championship side have already added defensive reinforcements this summer in Liam Morrison and Hevertton. QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes is now prioritising forward signings, which could be funded by any Clarke-Salter sale.

Speaking over the weekend, as reported by West London Sport, the Catalan said: "When you look at the acquisitions that we’ve made, they are in the middle or the back line. Hevertton is a right full-back but we are using him as a right winger because that’s where we are. We need more there and hopefully we can keep improving as well.

“We’ve got the players we’ve got, so I’m trying to get the best of all of them. I have a clear idea [of what is needed] and the club knows very well my idea. I am aware that we are trying to work and that’s where we are.”