Queens Park Rangers have been linked with Derby County’s Chris Martin and Nottingham Forest’s Jamie Ward.
According to a report in the Mirror, new Queens Park Rangers manager Steve McClaren wants to raid his former clubs Derby County and Nottingham Forest for attacking duo Chris Martin and Jamie Ward.
McClaren was recently appointed manager at QPR, taking over the reins from Ian Holloway after having previously held a coaching position at Loftus Road under then manager Harry Redknapp several seasons ago.
The former England manager left the Hoops to become Derby manager in 2013, and it was at Pride Park where he got the best out of Chris Martin and Jamie Ward as the Rams reached the 2013/14 playoff final.
Martin scored 40 goals over two campaigns under McClaren, but the former Norwich City man has since struggled to make an impact under McClaren’s Derby County successors Paul Clement and now Gary Rowett.
Seemingly out of favour and on a large contract, Derby sent Martin out on loan to Reading last season, and they will probably be more than happy to sell him on the cheap this coming summer. The report in the Mirror claims McClaren is eyeing the Scotland international in a £500,000 deal, and there is no doubt it has the potential to be an absolute bargain if Martin can rediscover his top form.
Ward, on the other hand, left Derby to join rivals Nottingham Forest, but he is another who struggled to settle following several managerial changes – eventually joining Cardiff City on loan last January.
The former Sheffield United forward helped the Bluebirds to promotion, but he’s unlikely to remain in the Welsh capital, prompting McClaren to target a reunion with him at Loftus Road.
Both players have plenty of experience in promotion races in the Championship, and McClaren will be keen to add some much-needed experience to his young squad in order to push for a place in the top six next term.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
