Sheffield United 'set to miss out' on defender target to Championship rivals Coventry City, according to reports

The Chelsea youngster was mentioned as a potential acquisition in discussions with United’s recruitment team earlier this summer, as boss Paul Heckingbottom looks to reprofile his squad ahead of the new Championship season.

Centre-half has been identified as a priority position to strengthen and with Ben Davies returning to Liverpool, and Jack O’Connell continuing his battle for fitness, a player capable of operating on the left of United’s back three would be particularly useful – hence the focus on Clarke-Salter.

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The path to his signature was seemingly smoothed last week when it was announced that he would become a free agent this summer, with Chelsea opting against taking up the option in his contract to extend it by a further year.

But CoventryLive have reported today that City, who had Clarke-Salter on loan last season, are closing in on signing him permanently and face competition from one other Championship club – who they report NOT to be United.

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The 24-year-old, a former captain of the England U21 side, has previously been linked with Leeds United and PSV Eindhoven and has ambitions to become a Premier League player.

But his loan spell in the midlands last season, and his close relationship with Adi Viveash, his former Chelsea youth coach who is now Mark Robins’ assistant manager at Coventry, may yet swing the race for his services in City’s favour ahead of the new Championship season, which begins on July 30.

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