It feels a long time ago now that we were talking about an exciting, youthful Queens Park Rangers team as potential dark horses for a top six berth.
Right now, the prospects of QPR gracing the Premier League again feel fanciful at best.
Then again, that’s what happens when you sell two of your star players over the summer with another seemingly destined to follow Eberechi Eze and Ryan Manning out of the exit door.
Bright Osayi-Samuel was nowhere to be seen on Tuesday night as QPR’s miserable start to the 2020/21 season continued with a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Barnsley.
It is no secret that the rapid winger is yet to extend a contract which expires in July 2021 and, as manager Mark Warburton said at full-time, it made little sense including Osayi-Samuel in the squad as speculation continues to swirl.
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“He’s a great lad, But his head has got to be in the right place for a game of football. I just felt tonight wasn’t right for him and for the team as well,” Warburton told West London Sport.
Celtic were already planning to sign the £5 million-rated speedster on a pre-contract agreement in January, according to The Sun.
And an increasingly disillusioned QPR fanbase are not exactly waiting with baited breath for Osayi-Samuel to put pen to paper at Loftus Road.
That battering at Oakwell means Rangers have won just one of their first eight Championship games with their hopes of a play-off place fading already.
With Celtic offering him the chance to play European football and fight for silverware, why would he stay at a club who appear to be heading in the wrong direction?
In other news, ‘It will be him’: Jurgen Klopp explains £34m Liverpool ace stance amid worrying development