With the January transfer window now open, where will Queens Park Rangers be looking to improve their squad?
Still lingering at the wrong end of the Championship table, Queens Park Rangers will be hoping to turn their fortunes around this January.
New boss Ian Holloway, who took over from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink last year, will be hoping to use the transfer window to bring in his own players, in order to start taking the London club back up the table toward the play-off places; a position a club of this size should be aiming for.
With that in mind, we take a look at three key areas where Queens Park Rangers might be looking to recruit, to either add something different to their team, or to improve on a significantly weak area of the team.
Queens Park Rangers manager Ian Holloway
A Holding Midfielder
After letting Ben Gladwin return to his former club Swindon Town, Queens Park Rangers are in need on a new defensive midfielder. Ideally, the club would look to bring in someone who can grab the game by the scruff of its neck, and turn defence in to attack, but have to be cautious of their budget. Holloway could turn to Brighton midfielder Rohan Ince, a signing that wouldn’t likely break the bank. Alternatively, a QPR move for Leeds’ holding midfielder Toumani Diagouraga would also see that position strengthened.
Leeds United’s Toumani Diagouraga
A Number 10
Despite signing highly rated Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo last year, Queens Park Rangers are struggled for goals from the number 10 midfield role. Luongo, who is undoubtedly a player for the future, has had a stop-start beginning to his career with the London club, and this may force Holloway to look to add, to start getting the goals flowing. Rivals Brentford might hold the key, in Spanish midfielder Jota, who has just returned from a lengthy injury. Quick, clever and full of goals, Jota is just the kind of player Ian Holloway’s side needs.
Jota of Brentford
A New Striker
Despite signs of a slow and steady improvement under Holloway, Queens Park Rangers are still languishing around the wrong end of the table, and If asked for a reason why the club seems to be failing to challenge for a play-off place each year, many QPR fans would point the finger at the fact that they have never really replaced former striker, Charlie Austin. The Rs lack that big, target man, who can mop up the loose balls and finish one-on-ones. Two Premier League options would be excellent targets: Leicester’s Leonardo Ulloa is proven in the Championship as is Middlesbrough’s Jordan Rhodes, though either would undoubtedly cost QPR a pretty penny or two.
Middlesbrough’s Jordan Rhodes
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