Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Alex Smithies has been in fine form for Ian Holloway’s side this season.
Queens Park Rangers’ Alex Smithies
It’s been a tough season for Queens Park Rangers this year. After not kicking on under former manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the Hoops made the change at the top, bringing in former boss Ian Holloway for a second spell in charge.
Under Holloway the club has stabilised, but not kicked on in the way that many QPR fans were probably hoping for. Sat 19th in the table, Queens Park Rangers are still dangerously close to the Championship relegation zone, and will need to make sure they don’t fall into a relegation scrap come the end of the season.
Perhaps one of the reasons Queens Park Rangers aren’t already in a relegation scrap, is thanks to the excellent goalkeeping of their Number 1, Alex Smithies. Coming to Loftus Road in 2015 from Huddersfield Town, the former Terriers goalkeeper has been outstanding during his time at QPR, and the Londoners may well be facing a real battle to keep hold of him in the summer.
Queens Park Rangers’ Alex Smithies
In December, it was reported by The Mirror that Aston Villa were looking to bring in Alex Smithies in a £4 million deal, before the Villans moved to sign Sam Johnstone on loan. With this expiring in the summer, and Aston Villa’s problems at the back still evident for all to see, Steve Bruce may well be tempted to bid for the Queens Park Rangers keeper again in the summer.
Unless their league form dramatically turns around in the near future, it’s difficult to see Queens Park Rangers keeping hold of the former Aston Villa target for much longer, as many would expect a player like Alex Smithies, one of the best keepers in the division, to be targeting a higher level than Ian Holloway’s team are at right now.
QPR’s Alex Smithies saves the penalty from Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia
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