Exclusive: QPR and West Brom in transfer race for Oxford United star | OneFootball

QPR and West Brom are both interested in a move for Oxford United defender Brodie Spencer this summer, Football League World understands

QPR and West Bromwich Albion are two sides who may just fancy their chances of breaking into the Championship play-offs next time out, and as the 2026/27 campaign edges ever closer, Football League World can exclusively reveal that the pair are both shopping in the same transfer markets and could end up racing against each other to complete a raid of Oxford United.

Both QPR and West Brom have been among the Championship's busier sides in the summer transfer window, with Julien Stephan's side sealing four eye-catching acquisitions to date in the form of Dutch full-back Boy Kemper, highly-rated goalkeeping pair Pierce Charles and Calum Ward and, most recently, ex-Brighton star Tariq Lamptey following his release from Italian outfit Fiorentina.

The Baggies have been equally active in the market, too, which was perhaps always going to be the case after a dismal 2025/26 term that Albion would spend much of in an unexpected battle against relegation to League One. Ambitions are higher for next season under James Morrison, though, and he has also brought four recruits to the Hawthorns by wrapping up deals for young forwards Barney Stewart and Jimmy-Jay Morgan from Falkirk and Chelsea respectively along with goalkeeper Matt Ingram from Oxford United - likely to be second-choice at best - and the return of left-back Conor Townsend.

That number is soon to increase as, according to reports, West Brom are closing in on the capture of Rodez defender Nolan Galves, with more business only expected before Albion's Championship campaign commences away to Norwich City on August 15.

Indeed, both West Brom and QPR are very much in contention to further strengthen their options in the right-back position and have identified an Oxford star as a worthwhile target, which could mark the Baggies' second raid on the Kassam Stadium if a swoop can be completed ahead of the West Londoners.

QPR and West Brom in transfer race for Oxford United's Brodie Spencer

Although the two sides have already struck deals at right-back by signing the aforementioned Lamptey and closing in on Galves' signature, it's felt by the key decision-makers at each club that more reinforcements are required in that area of the pitch and a new deal is being eyed up.

As a result, Football League World can exclusively reveal that QPR and West Brom have emerged as fresh suitors for Oxford United's Brodie Spencer, with the Championship duo expressing an initial interest in returning the 22-year-old to the Championship following the U's relegation at the end of the previous campaign.

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Spencer, who joined Oxford just last summer from Huddersfield Town in a switch first disclosed by FLW, made 29 league appearances as his side suffered relegation alongside Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City, although his individual performances have caught the eye to attract the attention of second-tier suitors and cast potential doubt over his future at the Kassam Stadium.

The 23-cap Northern Ireland international put pen to paper on what is only described as a "long-term deal", which may well place Oxford in a strong position if and when negotiations advance, and with the club's ongoing transfer embargo currently prohibiting new head coach Aaron Ramsey from bolstering his squad until January, an agreement could prove rather difficult to broker with the U's.

Either way, FLW understands that there is an interest in the respective boardrooms of the Hoops and Albion in snapping up Spencer, who has featured in the Championship on 53 occasions for Huddersfield and Oxford and made a strong third-tier impression with the Terriers in 2024/25.

Exactly how far that admiration may venture only waits to be seen, although both sides would benefit from stocking up the right-back berth. With Galves having not yet signed, Alfie Gilchrist represents West Brom's sole option there at this moment in time, although the ex-Chelsea prospect started just eight league games last season and there are doubts surrounding his long-term future in the West Midlands.

As for QPR, Stephan has two central defenders capable of shifting over and operating on the right-hand side in Jimmy Dunne and Amadou Mbengue, and while a fully-fit Lamptey would undoubtedly make that position his own, the 25-year-old's injury record is something of a concern and the R's are right to explore the possibility of further strengthening in that department after he made only two appearances for Fiorentina last time out.