Harry Redknapp struck low-key QPR transfer gold - But not how he expected | OneFootball

Ryan Manning arrived in West London as an 18-year-old forward from Galway United

Former Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp was "delighted" with the signing of Ryan Manning, but his vision of the player's future role would prove remarkably different from how it's actually turned out.

The signing was fairly understated at the time, with Manning arriving from Ireland's First Division as an 18-year-old forward who had just helped Galway United secure promotion through the play offs.

Upon announcing the Irishman's signing, Redknapp was clear about where he saw the teenager fitting into his plans. "Ryan is a young lad who has been chased by a number of top clubs in the Premier League," he said.

Redknapp added, "He is a busy player who can play off the left or in behind the striker. He is still young and has a lot to learn but it's a good gamble for us to take."

These words painted Manning as someone who could operate in the final third, suggesting Redknapp viewed the youngster as a versatile forward. While he may have been just that early on in his career, the reality could hardly have been more different for Manning.

Ryan Manning had to wait for his QPR breakthrough

After Redknapp's departure from the club in 2015, where he blamed a pending knee replacement as the reason, Manning found himself on the periphery under subsequent managers Chris Ramsey and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

It wasn't until Ian Holloway's arrival that Manning finally received his opportunity, making his senior debut on New Year's Eve in 2016, against Wolves.

The R's were in the midst of a six-game losing streak when Holloway handed Manning his chance, and he helped the club secure a 2-1 win that ended their barren run. Afterwards, Holloway declared, "I think Ryan Manning was absolutely oustanding and epitomised what my QPR was before and what I want it to be in the future."

Manning's impressive showing earned him starts in the next two games, which the club also won, and within three weeks he had been rewarded with a new contract tying him to West London until 2019. The Irishman did head out on loan to Rotherham United during the 2018/19 season, where he made an impression by scoring four goals from 18 appearances, and his brief stint in South Yorkshire would set the tone for him to return to Loftus Road and enjoy his best-ever campaign in blue-and-white stripes.

By the time he fully hit his stride at QPR, Manning had settled into the left-back role that would define his career. While Redknapp had identified him as someone who could "play off the left," the eventual interpretation of this would be far more literal than the former England manager had obviously intended.

The 19/20 season proved to be his best in an R's shirt, where he registered four league goals and seven assists from his defensive position. His performances were so impressive that West Ham United reportedly considered a £5m bid for his services, though surprisingly, he would remain in the Championship.

Ryan Manning's time at Swansea City and Southampton

Afteralmost seven yearsatQPR, then-24-year-old Manning eventually moved toSwansea Cityin October 2020 for around£250k- under the guidance of Steve Cooper.

During his time in South Wales, Manning consistently ranked among the Championship's most productive full-backs, with his five goals and ten assists in the 22/23 campaign making him the division's standout performer in his position.

This level of productivity from a defensive position justified the change to the left side of defence, but also showed that Redknapp's original instincts about Manning's attacking capabilities had been correct — even if the application was entirely different.

Russell Martin, who would take over from Cooper in SA1, then made the Irishman his first signing at Southampton in July 2023, after the player had allowed his Swansea contract to run its course. At St Mary's, the full-back has developed a bit of a knack of scoring free-kicks, and will have a huge role to play if Will Still's side are to achieve promotion this term.

Still only 29-years-old, Manning still clearly has a lot to offer — and the low-key signing from Ireland's second-tier ultimately provided QPR with exactly the kind of value Redknapp had hoped for...even if the manner of that success bore no resemblance to the manager's original vision.