Ilias Chair transfer future questioned - it could be a huge benefit to QPR in the race for the Premier League | OneFootball

The Moroccan playmaker has been out of action on several occasions in the past 12 months

It has been an encouraging start to the season for Queens Park Rangers, who are starting to look upwards once again after years of stagnation and decline.

The Hoops have now spent over a decade residing in the Championship, yet with an influx of promising signings and a strong vein of recent form, there is an ever-growing belief that new manager Julien Stephan could bring the good times back to Loftus Road.

The Frenchman came to West London with significant recent pedigree too, having enjoyed relative success at both Rennes and Strasbourg in Ligue 1, which also included brief stints managing the Brittany-based club in European competition.

Alarm bells were, unsurprisingly, raised when Rangers were on the receiving end of a 7-1 demolition by Coventry City in late August, but have responded in relatively impressive fashion.

This has also been achieved without the services of Ilias Chair, who suffered his latest setback ahead of the aforementioned encounter at the CBS Arena.

The Moroccan playmaker has become a modern-day cult figure in W12 for his goalscoring and creative exploits under a plethora of managers, which had previously led to interest from Premier League clubs.

However, with the Antwerp-born man turning 28 at the end of October, FLW's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, has debated whether that ship has now sailed due to his recent injury woes.

Ilias Chair backed to aid potential QPR promotion bid amid injury woes

Chair had previously racked up 43 goal contributions - 21 goals and 22 assists - over a three-season period between 2021/22 and 2023/24, showcasing exactly why top-flight clubs were monitoring his development and availability.

The attack-minded midfielder is, alongside current Arsenal star, Ebere Eze, the most high-profile academy graduate to come out of this part of West London in recent years. However, his past year or so has been overshadowed by injury woes during Marti Cifuentes' only full season in charge and the early weeks of Stephan's tenure.

Posting two goals and six assists in 28 league appearances last term, Chair suffered three separate injury setbacks, before suffering a back issue in August that has ruled him out of recent action whilst he continues an individual rehabilitation programme.

But, whilst Chair's signature may not be as in-demand as it once was, Moir backs him to still play an integral role for QPR should he stay injury-free.

"I think with Ilias Chair, the last few years especially, I've always been worried that a bid's going to come from a club that we just can't turn down," he admitted. "But, seemingly, that's never happened.

"Turning 28 this month, you've got to think has he missed that chance to get a massive move away? Because, realistically, it's not happening at his age now.

"He's made it clear on numerous occasions how much he loves playing for QPR, and how his dream is to get to the Premier League with us, which could obviously still happen," Moir claimed.

"You've got to look at it now, and the amount of years he's been at the club. He could just be one of those players that stay at the same club for a long time. If that's the case, I'd be buzzing because you know what you're going to get from him and how crucial he is to us succeeding.

"Yes he's had a couple of injuries which could reflect on him getting older because, season on season, he could be regarded as one of the most injury-free at the club and the whole league, really. He never seemed to get injured at all.

"He's had a couple of niggles, but hopefully nothing too serious and when he's back, he can really start firing.

"You're adding him back with the likes of Kwame Poku as well. That should only be a massive benefit to us," our fan pundit stated.

"I think he has missed the chance to get that top-flight move, but fingers crossed it happens with us still. If it doesn't, I hope he doesn't have any regrets that, a few seasons ago, he thought to himself that he could've left.

"He stayed with us, signed a new contract at the club. He's a modern day 'hero' of a player, really," our fan pundit added. "Fingers crossed he can get his top-flight move with us getting promoted."

Ilias Chair would cement his legacy at QPR with potentially unexpected promotion

Chair has been a fan favourite at Loftus Road for many years now, even though his side have rarely threatened the top six ever since returning to the Championship.

However, with several shrewd acquisitions being made in the summer, many onlookers are identifying Rangers as a potential 'dark horse' for the play-offs, such is the attacking flair and defensive sturdiness at Stephan's disposal.

The likes of Richard Kone, Harvey Vale and Koki Saito have all had strong impacts in the opening weeks of the season, and it would be no surprise to see such exploits only further improved once Chair and Poku return from their current layoffs.

As Moir alluded to, the 13-cap international cannot afford to think of what has gone in the past and solely focus on the here and now, which is returning to his very best and, for his and Rangers' sake, staying free from injury for a prolonged period.