Norwich and QPR lead the race to sign 30-goal a season striker
Published:Peterborough have accepted a bid from a Premier League for their highly-rated striker Craig Mackail-Smith.
Both Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers have made bids for the Watford-born Scottish striker and it is believed QPR’s bid is the one that has been accepted by the Championship club.
Mackail-Smith has been instrumental in Peterborough’s rise to the Championship this season scoring 35 goals in his 57 appearances, and despite netting all of those goals in League One, there is plenty of Premier League interest for the striker.
After such a strong season, it is believed Peterborough could command somewhere in the region of £1.5m for their prize asset, and while losing the striker would be a big blow to Peterborough’s hopes of survival next season, the Premier League interest can’t be ignored.
QPR are 2/7 to stay up next season with Norwich trading at 11/10, but both squds will need strengthening for their Premier League challenge, and this could be the first showing of the QPR owners flexing their wealth.
Mackail-Smith may not be the Miroslav Klose or Ruud van Nistelrooy that QPR fans would like, but for a minimal sum it’s worth taking a punt on a striker that was in fine form last season.
With QPR able to boast finances comparable to Manchester City, you have to believe that the London club are in the better position to sign Mackail-Smith and his entrance could be the first of many at Loftus Road this summer.
QPR are 10/11 to finish higher than Norwich (5/2) and Swansea (9/4) next season and of the three promoted clubs, their finances are in the best position to compete at the top level.
It’s going to be an interesting summer for QPR fans and while Mackail-Smith may not be a signal of intent from Neil Warnock, he’s a positive step in the right direction.
