The 34-year-old Scotland international is out of contract at Hull City at the end of the season, but QPR should intervene to stop him returning north of the border.
Bournemouth’s Jack Wilshere in action with Hull City’s Shaun Maloney
Now that Queens Park Rangers’ season has finished, with the threat of relegation dispelled, they can start looking towards potential summer signings – and weighing up the possibility of Hull City attacking midfielder Shaun Maloney wouldn’t be a bad start.
Maloney’s future remains very much up in the air at present, with the former Celtic man’s contract up at the end of the season, and he has been heavily linked with a move to Aberdeen, as reports the Daily Record.
The Daily Record believes that Maloney will be offered a new contract by Hull even if they go down, but there’s a strong chance he could turn it down as the report also states that he’d be willing to take a very large paycut to return to Scotland with Aberdeen, unsurprising considering he has struggled for appearances this season with the Tigers.
But QPR boss Ian Holloway should take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the midfielder’s future and push to keep Maloney in English football. Though he has only scored once and assisted twice in eight Premier League games this season – even at 34, Maloney would represent great business for the Rs.
Shaun Maloney in action with QPR’s Stephane Mbia (L)
An excellent set-piece taker, strong on the ball, and useful in possession, Maloney could offer Rangers a calm yet effective presence when going forwards, while also making the team much more menacing from free-kicks and corners.
Signing a player of Maloney’s calibre would put a dent in QPR’s finances normally, so to challenge for his signature at the cost of absolutely nothing makes a lot of sense – the worst he can say is no, and if QPR sign him, then they’d have made a very astute Championship signing.
QPR’s Sandro with manager Ian Holloway as he is substituted
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