Exclusive: Celtic ‘confident’ £5m deal can swing their way

Jake Clarke-Salter: Big update on Celtic deal hijack

Celtic hope the allure of Champions League football will be enough to win the race for Queens Park Rangers defender Jake Clarke-Salter, sources have told Football Insider.

Football Insider revealed on Monday (13 May) that the Hoops are “confident” of meeting QPR’s asking price for the defender, 26, this summer – which reportedly stands at between £5-7million.

Sources say Brendan Rodgers’ side are set for a huge transfer budget boost worth around £35million by winning the Scottish Premiership and qualifying directly to the Champions League proper.

However, Clarke-Salter is also wanted in England – with Football Insider revealing on 6 April that Crystal Palace, Burnley and Bournemouth are ready to join the race for his signature this summer.

It is believed Celtic will find it tough to match the wages on offer in the Premier League and at the top end of the Championship, but remain hopeful of fending off any hijack and winning the race for the ex-Chelsea star.

Celtic hopeful of landing Clarke-Salter despite English interest

Rodgers is keen to bolster his defence with a marquee signing in the off-season.

Clarke-Salter fits the bill after his time with QPR in the Championship, where he is under contract until June 2026.

The 26-year-old made 33 appearances across all competitions this season, starting in 29 of those outings.

Celtic currently have Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Liam Scales and Stephen Welsh in their defensive ranks.

The Hoops are on the brink of retaining the Scottish Premiership title and also face Rangers in the Scottish Cup final later this month.

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