"Deserves a move" - QPR man tipped for 2025 Loftus Road exit | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit admits he is surprised that Ilias Chair is still at the club

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Queens Park Rangers have endured a difficult start to the Championship season, and have managed just one win from their opening nine fixtures.

The international break seemingly arrived at the right time for Marti Ciduentes' side, who have not won a game since their 2-1 triumph over Luton Town in late August.

The R's have lacked attacking threat so far this season, and have scored just nine goals, which is partly due to the fact that playmaker Ilias Chair has only been able to make two appearances for the west London outfit, courtesy of injury problems.

QPR fan pundit issues Ilias Chair admission

Football League World asked our R's fan pundit, Louis Moir, if there was one QPR player in particular who should be playing at a higher level, and the diminutive playmaker that is Chair was name-dropped as an individual in question.

"I've spoken about Chair quite a few times, and I, to be honest, can't really believe he's still with us," Louis told FLW.

"I really thought he may have gone (during the) summer window.

"Obviously there was stuff going on with him off the pitch, which maybe put clubs off buying him, but obviously I'm delighted he's still with us.

"But in terms of ability, he is the best player at the club.

"I think with Chair, as each year has gone by, each season, we've seen him develop and grow more, which is probably replicated in his performances and numbers as well.

"Obviously, it's been a shame that he's been out so far this season, but now he's back, hopefully he can make us kick on as a team again.

"Some people would argue that he wouldn't cut it in the Premier League.

"I'm not so sure - I think he potentially could, or he would probably look good and fit in well in a fairly top level European club.

"You could see him maybe playing for a big club in Belgium or something like that.

"I think he's class, he's still at a decent age to be fair, and I'd be very surprised if he's still a QPR player next summer, if we don't achieve anything this season, because if he stays with us, fair play.

"But for his own sake he may think 'right, this is the time I have to move on.'

"If he's with us (I'm) delighted, if not, he deserves a move."

Ilias Chair is a class act for QPR and his return to starting XI cannot come soon enough

While the R's squad does boast talent elsewhere, such as Karamoko Dembele and Sam Field, it is clear to see why Louis has singled out Chair as the club's outstanding talent.

Ever since returning from a 2018/19 loan spell with Stevenage, the Morocco international has consistently been a threat in the final third at Championship level.

During the 2019/10 season, Chair scored four goals as well as creating six assists in the second tier, as the R's finished 13th in the Championship table, and went on to produce an even better return of eight goals and four assists as the Loftus Road side landed a top-ten finish in 2020/21.

Even when QPR are not performing particularly well, the 26-year-old still retains the ability to produce the goods, as demonstrated last season when he managed seven goals and eight assists, despite the fact that Cifuentes' men avoided relegation by just six points.

Given the R's early season struggles, supporters may hope that the ace can provide an impressive individual return once more, as Cifuentes and co look to climb the Championship table - that is surely more likely to happen when the Moroccan is back in the starting 11, which he should be sooner rather than later.