According to the latest reports from Wales Online, Leeds United’s hopes of signing Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter has been dashed as Frank Lampard is unlikely to sanction any move for the defender to Elland Road. The Whites were initially said to be hopeful of landing the England u-21 captain on loan, but that is now out of the question.
Leeds United and Frank Lampard didn’t share the best of relationships as the Whites were found guilty of spying on Derby County. Lampard might have lost thrice to Bielsa last season, but he won the tie which mattered the most and that too at Elland Road.
Why are Leeds United in search of a defender?
Ever since the departure of Pontus Jansson, the Whites have been linked with a few defenders. Clarke-Salter seems to be latest on this list. However, before things could have developed, the move is done and dusted from United’s point of view.
The Yorkshire side only have two senior centre backs in the form of Liam Cooper and Gaetano Berardi. Ben White has been signed on loan from Brighton, but the 20-year-old is vastly inexperienced and is yet to be tested at a higher level. Kalvin Phillips can also fill in as a centre back as he showed last season. But we think that he is too important to be removed from the defensive midfield position.
Would Clarke-Salter had solved the defensive problem for the Whites?
The defender has represented England at various youth levels and has come up from Chelsea’s academy. The centre back is known for his strength, pace and defensive attributes. He is touted to have a big future given that he is captaining the England u-21 side. Clarke-Salter has experience of playing in the Championship as he played for Sunderland in 2018. The 21-year-old had even made his debut in the Premier League as he has one appearance to his name in the English top flight.
However, the Whites should be on the lookout for an experienced and proven defender. Moving to the Premier League is going to be a long and tough journey, and the club needs to add players who have done it before or are proven at the Championship level atleast.
The club already have a young defender in the form of Ben White so losing out on Clarke-Salter shouldn’t be seen as too big a blow for the Whites.
