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FLW's QPR Fan Pundit defends the club's decision to extend Michael Frey's contract

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…

Michael Frey's future at Loftus Road was secured when Queens Park Rangers activated a 12-month extension clause in his contract earlier this year, keeping the 31-year-old at the club until the end of this season.

The Swiss striker earns approximately £15k-a-week, as per Capology estimates, and has suffered multiple injury problems that have limited his availability since joining from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

With the R's now boasting significant depth in the striker position through new signings Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell, questions have emerged about whether retaining an injury-prone player was the right call.

Michael Frey's Queens Park Rangers contract extension defended

Speaking about the situation, FLW's QPR Fan Pundit, Louis Moir, has defended the club's decision to trigger Michael Frey's contract extension despite his injury record.

"I don’t think it was a mistake to keep Frey at all. Personally, I really like him - I think he’s a bit of a menace at this level, on his day he’s difficult to defend against and we’ve seen that multiple times since he’s been at the club," he said.

The Fan Pundit highlighted Frey's qualities that make him valuable to the squad. "Obviously, signing Kone, Burrell - who looks a cracking player off the bench - I don’t really class Kolli as a striker, so if Frey gets back fit we’ve got another really important option there with him in the squad."

The striker has managed just 38 Championship appearances since arriving in West London, scoring nine goals. During the 24/25 season, Frey's average goals scored per 90 minutes was 0.40.

Frey spent an extended period out with a calf issue in the closing months of 2024 and suffered another training injury in March that kept him out of action.

"With Celar going as well, I don’t think it was a mistake to keep him at all. Injury wise, yes, it’s not ideal he’s been out and sort of missed a bit of the end to pre-season as well, but you’d hope during the international break there’s time for him to get back and get up to speed," Moir continued.

"Nuisance" claims for QPR striker Michael Fray

Moir spoke about how Frey's contribution extends beyond just goalscoring - his best ever season personally was 21/22 with Antwerp, where he netted 24 goals in 39 league games.

"He is a bit of a nuisance and I like him. Look, he’s a goalscorer, he’s been a goalscorer in his career. Now with signing Kone, Frey’s not going to be your main man, but to have him as an option is really beneficial to us - it gives us another way of playing," Moir told FLW.

The R's fan highlighted how the club's improved attacking depth could actually benefit Frey. "Purely because of the signings we’ve made attacking wise, and the players we’ve already got at the club in those positions, any striker up there is going to benefit from having Dembele, Saito, Chair, Poku, Vale, the likes of them supplying and creating chances," he added.

With Zan Celar departing on loan to Fortuna Dusseldorf with an option to buy, there is obviously a clearer way for Frey to contribute and compete with both Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell - who arrived from Wycombe Wanderers and Burton Albion respectively.

Kone, who once scored 88 goals in 109 appearances for Non-League side Athletic Newham, has two goals in his opening three games in the second-tier.

As for Jamaica International Burrell, the 24-year-old is yet to score this season having appeared in four league matches himself - albeit two were off the bench.

Moir ultimately remained confident that the Swiss striker will make a meaningful contribution when he returns to full fitness. "I still think Frey will have his part to play this season, he’ll come up with moments I'm sure."

It's probably pretty apparent that, given the improved options up-front from last season, less pressure might be placed on any individual striker to perform. Given the quality of wingers at the club as well, Rangers' fans can surely be confident that Frey will be given bags of service when he returns from injury.