Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton has laughed off reports linking his star centre-back Rob Dickie with Premier League pair Wolves and Burnley, speaking to the Brent & Kilburn Times.
For QPR supporters, 1 September can’t come soon enough.
This week alone, goalkeeper Seny Dieng has been linked with a move to Championship rivals Sheffield United.
Dickie, meanwhile, has apparently emerged as a target for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley following an outstanding start to the campaign in west London.
Blessed with an excellent reading of the game, a superb passing range and a poacher’s instinct more usually associated with a centre-forward than a centre-half, the former Oxford United talisman looks a defender of Premier League potential.
But as far as Warburton is concerned, the Loftus Road faithful have nothing to worry about just yet.
Wolves and Burnley chase Rob Dickie
“I’m reading some bizarre stories apparently about my players being close to finalising deals to Premier League clubs,” said Warburton, having already taken a sledgehammer to reports suggesting Dieng could leave for £6 million.
“Apparently, six of my players are leaving.
“Wolves, Leeds, Newcastle United, they’re all linked at prices that are laughable. I’ve never read so much bull in my life.”
In fairness to The Mirror, it only said Dickie was being “monitored” at Molineux and Turf Moor, not that arguably the finest ball-playing centre-half in the Championship was set for an imminent departure from the club he joined for just £1.6 million almost 12 months ago.
Wolves are certainly in the market for a commanding central defender, one who would suit Bruno Lage’s forward-thinking, possession-based approach.
A deal for Olympiacos stopper Ruben Semedo appears to have hit the buffers because of work permit concerns.
Burnley, meanwhile, have little choice but to reluctantly start planning for life without contract rebel James Tarkowski.
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