Sheffield United-linked Jake Clarke-Salter's future becoming clearer as two-horse race emerges

Sheffield United are not in the running for former Chelsea centre back Jake Clarke-Salter, according to the Coventry Telegraph. The report claims that Coventry City are in a two-horse race with another unnamed Championship club for Clarke-Salter’s signature, but it is not thought to be the Blades.

It is unclear just how strong United’s interest is in the 24-year-old, though alongside Leeds United, Club Brugge and PSV, links have been rife this summer. Clarke-Salter enjoyed an impressive season on loan at the Sky Blues in the 2021/22 campaign and was a popular member among the squad.

He also possesses a strong relationship with Coventry assistant manager Adi Viveash due to his time as a youth coach at Chelsea, where Clarke-Salter spent 16 years. That is likely to tip him towards a return to Coventry, meaning United will have to turn their attentions elsewhere in their search for a centre back, if indeed they were there in the first place.

Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom has identified ‘six or seven positions’ that require strengthening this summer, as he looks to put together a squad capable of pushing for promotion again. It is likely that centre back will be one of those areas, with both Ben Davies and Filip Uremovic returning to their respective parent clubs upon the completion of their loan spells.

United are yet to make their first foray into this summer’s transfer window, though there is hope a deal may not be too far away after CEO Stephen Bettis’ update at the beginning of this month. He claimed that two incomings were not too far away, though neither have yet been finalised.

He said: "We've got one offer in at the moment for a permanent with a fee being paid and if we could, we'd get it done in the next week