A Key Transfer Window - QPR

In 2011, Malaysian Businessman, Tony Fernandes bought a 66% stake in QPR. When Fernandes bought the stake in the club he set out the ambitious goal of winning the Champion’s League and the Premier League, that very season the club suffered a severe and edgy relegation battle, they survived that time but the warning signs were there for the next season, warning signs which were ignored and QPR dropped to England’s second tier.

In the summer of 2013 and everything was looking very grim for QPR fans when Harry Redknapp landed super striker Charlie Austin from championship rivals Burnley for the bargain fee of £4million. Charlie Austin turned out to be instrumental for QPR’s season scoring 19 goals in 34 appearances and helping QPR secure 4^th position; a championship playoff place. QPR secured promotion to England’s top flight via a last minute Bobby Zamora (of all people!) strike in the playoff final against Derby County. And now QPR are back in the big time, but this time they will be looking to make their stay a little more permanent.

Harry Redknapp has already dipped into the transfer market twice securing the services of English duo Steven Caulker and Rio Ferdinand; a solid, experienced and strong defensive pairing which will prove to be vital for the upcoming Premier League season. As a newly promoted side, it is imperative to utilise the summer transfer window well and recruit enough quality to ‘cut it’ in the Premier League and thankfully for QPR fans they have a manager who knows exactly what has to be done.

But with the Premier League currently 16 days away and only two additions QPR fans are becoming a little agitated. Here is a quick run down of QPR’s current side and the areas, I think, they need to improve in.

Goalkeeper – Julio Cesar, Very competent keeper and definitely Premier League standard, they also have a good understudy in Robert Green who’s certainly a lot better than most 2^nd choice goalkeepers in the premier league.

Right Back - Danny Simpson, Has Premier League experience with Newcastle but perhaps lacks Premier league quality. Harry Redknapp should be looking to sign a new right back that meets the requirements of a premier league right back.

Centre Back – Steven Caulker, Very good premier league quality centre back. He’s big, strong and is always a threat from set pieces. The success of QPR’s season could hinge on Rio Ferdinand and Caulker staying fit for the most part of the campaign.

Centre Back – Rio Ferdinand, Premier League quality centre back. Bags of experience, leader of men and would work well with partner Steven Caulker.

Left Back – Armand Traore, Product of Arsenal’s academy but never could establish himself as a regular starter so joined QPR. This is a position that is lacking depth following Benoit Assou Ekotto’s return to Spurs and Redknapp should look to reinforce this area of the pitch.

Right Midfield – Nico Kranjcar, follows Redknapp wherever he goes: Spurs, Portsmouth and now QPR. Redknapp obviously sees something in him that most football fans don’t. I personally liked him whilst he was playing at Portsmouth and the early years at spurs but now agree with most in that he has peaked and isn’t of premier league quality, but then again I thought that of Gareth Barry when Everton signed him on loan and how wrong was I then.

Central Midfield – Jermaine Jenas. Jermaine Jenas has precious experience in English’s top tier but, at 31, he is quite evidently past his best and most probably wouldn’t ‘cut it’ in the premier league next season. This is a position Harry Redknapp desperately needs to sign a premier league standard player in.  He’s has recently confirmed an interest in Norwich’s Leroy Fer.

Central Midfield – Joey Barton. Joey Barton is known for his tenacity, aggression ad fearlessness but lacks discipline. Barton has had valuable experience in the premier league and I believe that he is still of an acceptable standard to play in the top tier.

Left Midfield – Junior Hoilett. Hoilett, in my opinion, is definitely of premier league quality; he has all the skills and attributes to be a real success in the premier league this season. He is quite a similar player to Yannick Bolasie of Crystal Palace who was also a success last season, which culminated in interest from some of the league’s top clubs such as Liverpool and Everton. Hoilett will definitely be hoping for similar success.

Striker – Charlie Austin. Charlie Austin was instrumental to QPR’s promotion last season scoring 19 goals in the league and is definitely ready and capable of taking the step up to the premier league.

Striker – Kevin Doyle/ Loic Remy (if he stays), If Loic Remy stays at QPR then I think that Harry Redknapp won’t have to sign another striker and the prospect of Remy and Austin up front is mouth watering and would strike fear into opponents but should he leave I think he will go on to sign a premier League quality striker. Ajax’s Sigthorsson is looking increasingly likely to be the man heading to Loftus road.

Some of you may be quick to point out that I have missed out Adel Taarabt in this line up but the reason that I haven’t included him in this part of the line up is because he is looking increasingly likely to make a permanent switch to AC Milan having been given an ultimatum by Harry Redknapp stating “get fit or get out”.

Here are two of the players that QPR are currently looking at to add to their squad:

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson - QPR are looking to boost their attacking options by signing Kolbeinn Sigthorsson from Ajax, while they aren’t taking any risks in losing Remy too late in the window without time to recruit the perfect Replacement. It has been reported that the London outfit has agreed a £4.8million fee with the Dutch giants for Sigthorsson but the transfer has been delayed due to the negotiations over personal terms coming across stumbling blocks. Prior to his move to Holland, the forward had trials at Arsenal, while Real Madrid were also reportedly interested in him so he can’t be that bad can he?

During his time at Ajax he scored 28 goals in 79 matches, that’s a ratio of 0.35 goals per game and compared to other premier league strikers last season (Jay Rodriguez 0.45 goals per game, Loic Remy 0.53 goals per game and Wilfried Bony 0.47 goals per game) he falls short of the mark (and that was in Holland).   Based on those unconvincing figures I don't really rate Sigthorsson as a Premier League quality striker and is a far from ideal replacement for Exit bound Loic Remy.

Leroy Fer – Harry Redknapp looks to be lining up a bid for ‘The Bouncer’, a nickname from when he started out at Feyenoord because of his physicality and strength, from Premier league ‘relegatees’ Norwich. Last season Fer was one of the better players for Norwich, the strong Dutch international who would be an ideal replacement for Gary O’Neill. Fer, as proven in the world cup is a prominent aerial threat scoring a memorable, bullet header against Chile. He also, similar to Joey Barton, is known for his tenacity and aggression and definitely is of a Premier League standard. Overall, he would be a quality addition to the QPR side and definitely boost their chances of survival next season.

By @joelymo444