Exclusive: Lee Hendrie reacts to big QPR transfer update involving Jonathan Varane | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie is not surprised in the slightest that Jonathan Varane is attracting strong attention

QPR midfielder Jonathan Varane is the subject of a £5m bid from Spanish side Espanyol.

The approach was revealed by West London Sport, who also confirmed that the Championship side are planning to reject the bid.

Varane was an important part of Rangers’ side this season, making 39 Championship appearances after arriving at the club last summer.

We asked Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie whether QPR should stick or twist on Varane on account of the recent bid.

Varane worth the bid to Hendrie

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie said: “Jonathan Varane at QPR, again a player that I've watched a fair bit in the EFL and the Championship.

“And I've actually looked at him and thought about his strength, his physicality. There's no wonder that Espanyol have tabled a £5million bid for him.

“I think having the season in the Championship helped him no end, and playing in a vibrant side where he's been given license at times to really flourish and be himself, I think it's brought him out and showed that he's capable of taking a step up.

“So no surprise at all. But obviously losing players like that for QPR is not what they want, at all.

“I know that they've bought players in, they've used a lot of their younger players last season. But again, you know, the quality starts to shine through and that's where people look, see, and monitor players like Varane.

“And there's no wonder, as I said, his physicality, his strength, and I'm sure that he'll come on and come on, because from what I’ve seen, I was very impressed with him on a number of occasions.”

Espanyol bid is a strong show of faith in QPR’s recruitment

Varane was only signed by the west London side last summer, from second-tier Spanish side Sporting Gijon, having risen through the youth ranks at French outfit Lens, just as his half-brother – former Real Madrid and Manchester United star, Raphael – did in his youth.

According to West London Sport, Varane cost QPR just £875,000, making Espanyol’s bid more than five times their original outlay after just one season.

Not only is the bid a strong vote of confidence for the talent of the midfielder, but it also shows the good work being done by the recruitment team.

That applies to both the initial recruitment and the retention, as QPR were smart enough to get Varane signed up to a new, long-term contract last month.

It was a timely manoeuvre, give Espanyol’s approach, and puts the Championship side in a much stronger position to fight off such bids.

The fact that QPR want to keep hold of Varane with such hefty instant profits on the table is evidence of how highly rated he is at Loftus Road.

If Rangers believe there’s a substantial amount of development still to come from Varane, as they moves suggest, then keeping hold of the player at this stage is undoubtedly the right thing to do.