Potential boost for Queens Park Rangers as Shay Given hints at possible Championship move

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QPR have been linked with veteran goalkeeper Shay Given as doubts persist around the future of Huddersfield Town-linked Alex Smithies.

QPR manager Ian Holloway

Queens Park Rangers are facing up to their worst nightmare this summer. According to The Standard, QPR will soon discover whether they will be forced to pay a £57.9 million fine for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.

If so, their hopes of keeping hold of talismanic goalkeeper Alex Smithies could suffer a major blow.

Director of Football Les Ferdinand admitted recently that the club may be forced to sell before they buy and it has been reported that Smithies would be enticed by a return to hometown club Huddersfield Town.

QPR’s Alex Smithies saves a penalty from Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia

The fact that the Terriers will be playing top flight football next season certainly makes the prospect of an emotional homecoming even more tempting.

Although, on the upside, QPR may have discovered a ready made replacement – albeit one whose best years are well behind him.

GetWestLondon reported recently that the Loftus Road club were mulling over a move for 41-year-old Shay Given following his release from Stoke City.

Shay Given was released by Stoke at the end of the season

Shay’s a Given

And the Republic of Ireland legend has confirmed that he is on the lookout for a new club and suggested that he still has the ability to play regularly in the Championship.

“I do feel I could go on for another year, be it as a number two or three in the Premier League, or number one in the Championship,” the former Newcastle United and Manchester City goalkeeper told the Belfast Telegraph.

“There are a couple of options, which is encouraging. I know if the phone doesn’t ring by the end of the window, then I won’t be moping around because the party is over, but I do feel I could play another year, definitely.”

However, the question is whether QPR would be sensible to hand Given an opportunity to prolong his storied career.

The veteran has only made 11 league appearances in the last three seasons and he would surely represent a drop-down in quality from the excellent Smithies, after all.