"He ticks the boxes" - QPR urged to consider Owen Beck transfer alternative at Man City | OneFootball

FLW has been speaking with our QPR fan pundit to discuss one player that the R's should look to sign before the transfer window shuts.

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 had a mixed start to the 2024/25 season, with Marti Cifuentes' side falling to West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the Championship.

The R's then put that defeat behind them by recording a victory over Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup, before earning their first Championship point of the season with a second half comeback at Bramall Lane to earn a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.

With the exciting arrivals of Karamoko Dembele, Zan Celar and Koki Saito to name but a few, the Hoops are hoping to be one of the Championship's surprise packages this season, as they look to return to serious play-off contention for the first time in some years.

QPR told to pursue move for Man City left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand

Nicolas Madsen looks set to arrive from Westerlo in Belgium as a goalscoring midfielder, with Sacha Tavolieri reporting that a €3.75 million fee has been agreed between the two clubs, but there could be the scope to strengthen further before the August 30 deadline.

FLW's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, believes that whilst most of the R's business appears to be finalised, a left-back should also be on Marti Cifuentes' radar - specifically one from Premier League champions Man City.

Moir told Football League World: "Looking at our squad now, you could argue that there's maybe one or two players that we should only be bringing in now, because our business is pretty much done.

"But, if there was probably going to be one you could suggest is maybe in the left-back position, because obviously, we've loaned out Ziyad Larkeche, Kenneth Paal, we still don't know if he's going to sign a new deal and he might still leave.

"So, realistically, we need another player in that position. I think one player you could potentially look at is Josh Wilson-Esbrand on loan from Manchester City.

"He's obviously a talented player, he wouldn't be at Man City if he wasn't. He's been loaned out a few times including to Coventry, and then Cardiff last season. He's still only 21, so to have that Championship experience under his belt playing for two clubs already, that's huge.

"He's probably one who might be able to make another loan move before the window shuts, you'd be surprised if he doesn't. If we're looking at left-back's to come in, we're rumoured to be getting Owen Beck on loan from Liverpool, so it's a similar comparison really.

"If you're looking at a Premier League club who have a talented left-back on their hands, and they're happy to loan him, he ticks the boxes. He's got a bit of pace about him as well, and the experience he's got under his belt.

"He seems to be highly-rated at Man City, all the signs are there that he could do a decent job at this level on loan again. I'd be looking at him for that left-back spot, so for me, Josh Wilson-Esbrand."

Whilst he hasn't lit up the Championship during his brief loan spells with Coventry and Cardiff respectively, Wilson-Esbrand has shown that he's a player who has a future in the second tier.

Having spent time with West Ham United prior to signing with Man City in 2019, the England youth international is a clearly a player that multiple top academy coaches and clubs have identified as having the potential to go far in the game.

Needless to say, Pep Guardiola doesn't hand minutes to any player that he doesn't have total trust in, so the fact that Wilson-Esbrand made two Champions League appearances for City in 2022/23 speaks to the talent he possesses.

Injuries have hampered his development at times, and with the quality at Guardiola's disposal on the left flank at the Etihad Stadium, breaking into and holding down a regular starting role for the Premier League champions is a tall task for any young player.

Therefore, as he moves ever further away from his teenage years, the need and desire to be playing regular senior football will only naturally increase. As such, a loan with the option/obligation to buy Wilson-Esbrand this summer has the feeling of a deal that would suit all parties.

With the uncertainty surrounding Paal's future and a severe lack of recognised depth behind the Suriname international, Loftus Road could be an ideal landing spot for Wilson-Esbrand to find a home for him moving forward.

There's a clear path to regular starting opportunities at QPR, and under Cifuentes, he would be working with a coach who would have the ability to extract the best out of him.