QPR owner eyes five new targets before transfer window shuts
Published:Tony Fernandes has six days to stamp his mark on his new business venture and he wants to do it by bringing four or five players to the club.
The transfer window closes next Wednesday and while Queens Park Rangers have made a solid start to life in the Premier League, they need to strengthen the squad if they are going to remain in the Premier League next season.
“We’re looking at about four or five players and in due course hopefully we’ll have some good announcements to make,” Fernandes told TalkSport yesterday.
“It’s going to be a tense few days as we try to get the players we want but God willing we’ll be able to get them.
“We haven’t really got a budget but it depends on the type of player we get, whether he fits in.
“We’re fairly flexible on it but obviously we’re not in the same league as Man City and any of those teams.”
The QPR board are ready to offer Joey Barton £60,000-a-week to join the club and it’s looking increasingly likely the Newcastle midfielder will be the first of the five new recruits.
What that means for Scott Parker is unsure but he remains firmly in Fernandes’ sights and Kieron Dyer’s injury opens up another spot in the midfield alongside Barton.
Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell have arrived but Peter Crouch remains on QPR’s radar, as do Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Philips although Cole may be handed a Tottenham Hotspur shirt in the near future.
The real problem for QPR is strengthening the defence and the London club could be doing plenty of negotiating in Birmingham over the next few days.
Liverpool’s move for Sebasitan Coates means Scott Dann is still available and both he and his team-mate Liam Ridgewell would be high on QPR’s wishlist, as would Aston Villa right-back Luke Young, although that would depend on Villa signing Spurs’ Alan Hutton.
At 6/4 to be relegated, there’s a fair bit of optimism behind QPR staying up and if Fernandes fulfils his promises, that price will lengthen further.
