Sheffield United appear to have missed the boat when it comes to signing Jake Clarke-Salter, with the defender in talks with two other Championship clubs.
The Blades had been linked with a move for the 24-year-old defender. Having been released by Chelsea, Clarke-Salter is free to join whoever he likes this summer. But despite holding an interest in him, Coventry Live reports that it won’t be Sheffield United who sign Clarke-Salter.
Instead, Clarke-Salter is thought to have narrowed his options down to two Championship teams. Coventry are one of them, with the other club not named as yet. Further, there is no indication as to who it might be, with so many clubs in the Championship looking to strengthen this summer.
For United, it represents a blow early on in the window. Stephen Bettis spoke last week of there being an offer in for a free-agent, with Clarke-Salter an obvious fit to that statement. Of course, the Blades will have a host of names on their list of potential signings. By all means, then, we may never have offered terms to Clarke-Salter.
Regardless, though, it is another name crossed off the list as a non-starter. Clarke-Salter enjoyed his time with Coventry last year, and there’s every chance he ends up back there.
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Our View: Time To Scrub Clarke-Salter From The List Of Targets
It’s football, it happens, and United will simply move onto the next one. It is a shame, as of all the players being linked thus far, Clarke-Salter had seemed a good fit and one we had genuine interest in.
Sheffield United News understands that the ex-Chelsea man did indeed feature on Heckingbottom’s transfer wish list.
But with two other clubs now down the line in negotiations, it appears United have missed out. In a nutshell, it’s simply onto the next one for United now.