Scout Report – Jake Clarke-Salter
Sunderland are reportedly set to sign Chelsea starlet Jake Clarke-Salter on a temporary loan move this January. He is set to undergo a medical soon and already has one foot out the exit door at Stamford Bridge. The promising youngster is in dire need of game time and does seem like a bright prospect for the club. The centre-back has made just one appearance for the Blues this season and joining the Championship outfit could fuel his hopes of playing more regularly.
At 22 years of age, Clarke-Salter is primed to be a John Terry replacement in the future. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at his profile.
History
Born in 1995 in London, England, Clarke-Salter has been a part of Chelsea since about 11 years of age. He quickly progressed through the academy ranks and had his first big break-through at the age of 16 when he played for the U18 side. It did not take time for him to establish himself as a key player and he eventually became the captain. He has appeared as a substitute for the senior team a couple of times but was shipped out on a loan to Bristol Rovers in 2016.
He returned to the club at the beginning of the current season even signed a new four-year deal. However, if things work out, we could see him in a Sunderland jersey soon enough.
As far as his international career is concerned, he has appeared for the England U18 and U19 sides and was also a part of the U20 team in the recently-concluded FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea.
Playing Style
Known for making some impressive blocks and tackles, Clarke-Salter is quite a sturdy centre-back. His style is very similar to John Terry’s in the sense that his passing skills are top-notch. He has a penchant for playing short passes. His interceptions are well-timed and the player does not really dive into tackles. His disciplinary record is also quite tidy and the youngster seems to have a composed mind that brings about a sense of maturity into his game.
Clarke-Salter’s Future
Clarke-Salter has tremendous potential and is quite talented but to bring out his best, he needs experience and playing time. Moving to Sunderland at this time does seem like a good option since the club could use a player like him. They have shipped in 7 goals in their last 5 games and a player of Clarke-Salter’s pedigree can truly make a difference in terms of tightening up their defence. This loan move will not only help him muster some much-needed experience but would also get him closer to his dreams of playing for the Chelsea first-team as a regular.