QPR backed for beating Derby County to transfer - he "has been a revelation" | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit has shared their opinion on the permanent signing of Koki Saito

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...

Japanese winger Koki Saito signed for Queens Park Rangers permanently this summer from Belgian side Lommel SK, following a successful loan spell in West London last season, much to the delight of R's fans.

Having impressed in his maiden season in England, QPR fought off competition from Derby County this summer to confirm the permanent arrival of Saito, signing for a fee in the region of £2.7 million.

Derby brought in 13 players this summer under manager John Eustace, and upon being linked with Saito, he told BBC Radio Derby, "I think he's a player that everyone has been looking at.

"We've been linked with several players and obviously it's great to be linked with all the good players in the Championship, and he's no different."

In the end, Saito returned to West London, where he endeared himself to the R's faithful with his performances on the wing, proving to be a key player under former manager Marti Cifuentes, and remaining one under new boss Julien Stephan.

QPR beat Derby County to the signing of Koki Saito, whose "only going to get better"

FLW's QPR fan pundit, Louis, has provided their opinion on the permanent arrival of Saito, having pipped Derby to the winger's signature.

Louis said, "Having Saito back has been brilliant for us, really. I think when the rumours were going around that he was coming back on a permanent deal, I think the majority of people, well, everyone was buzzing, I think.

"A few fans were probably thinking, 'Do we really need him? Do we really need that and prioritise maybe a different position?', but I think that he has shown already that, yes, we needed him desperately, because he's been superb, really.

"His all-round game has been excellent. He, obviously, for us, we benefited because he had that spell on loan with us last season, and he's had that experience in the Championship, and he's only going to get better, and I think he's shown that already.

"He's just been a revelation, really. I think he's so fun to watch; obviously, he's so dangerous with his pace and trickery.

"You see that goal against Charlton, just brilliant. I don't think there would be many players in the league who can do what he does, and I am just delighted that we managed to secure a deal for him on a permanent.

"He's only going to get better. He's a good age, 24, he's had experience in the Championship, and he's just going to continue to develop and get even better.

"If he starts adding more goals and assists to his game, again, with the players like we've got with him, Vale, who's been on fire, Chair coming back, Poku coming back, Madsen creating loads of chances, [we've] still got the likes of Dembele as well.

"These players, and Saito included, we could blow any team away in this league, genuinely. Having players like Saito is only going to help with that.

"I'm buzzing that he's back, and with the way it's going, he deserves to be starting to most games on that left-hand side. A brilliant, brilliant player, and he's only going to get better."

Koki Saito has become a fan favourite at QPR

Saito scored three times and grabbed three assists in 39 Championship games for QPR last season, and whilst these numbers certainly aren't out of the ordinary, it has been Saito's personality off the pitch that R's fans have fallen in love with.

After scoring his first goal for the club against Hull City, Saito gave an enthusiastic post-match interview alongside Paul Smyth, despite not being yet familiar with the language.

Having scored his first goal as a permanent QPR player against Charlton, Saito and Smyth shared an interview once again and recreated that endearing moment.

With competition for a place on the wing in West London high, with the likes of Karamoko Dembele, Ilias Chair, and Kwame Poku competing with Smyth and Saito, the Japanese winger's place in the starting eleven is far from guaranteed.

Whether he is coming off the bench or starting, R's fans will care little and will just be relieved to see him in QPR colours once again, this time for good.