Queens Park Rangers were keen to sign Dwight Gayle before the striker’s move from Crystal Palace to Newcastle United.
Les Ferdinand, the Queens Park Rangers director of football, has admitted trying to exchange strikers with Crystal Palace last season, via Get West London.
QPR were keen to add to their front line following relegation to the Championship, and targeted Burnley’s Andre Gray and Newcastle United’s Dwight Gayle, then of Brentford and Palace respectively, after the Eagles were linked with R’s striker Charlie Austin, later sold to Southampton.
Ferdinand, however, says that both deals were ultimately scuppered by finances, leaving the west Londoners to focus on less experienced players instead.
And though that policy is yet to pay dividends – with QPR currently 18th in the Championship – it is one the club will have to persevere with, it seems.
“We’ll still need to bring in experienced players but we can only afford younger players,” Ferdinand said, as quoted by Get West London. “We understand that. Not because I want to do that, it’s where we at.
“Who knows? If we get some progression, the views of the owners may change and say here’s some money to go and spend.
“When I walked through the door (in February 2015), I said go and get Andre Gray – couldn’t afford him.”
He added: “Last year I said, let’s do Dwight Gayle as Charlie Austin might have gone the other way to Crystal Palace. We can’t afford it.
“If I could buy more established players then we would do that, but it’s got to be right for the club.”
Gray went on to finish as the Championship’s top scorer last season as Burnley secured an instant return to the Premier League as champions, while Gayle looks set to do likewise with Newcastle.
Gayle has already scored 16 league goals since signing for the Magpies, nine short of Gray’s tally throughout the whole of last term.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
