QPR backed to fend off West Brom to sign versatile star | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit wants the Hoops to succeed in their pursuit of Brodie Spencer this summer

QPR have had their issues nailing down a natural right-back over the past few years, and Julien Stephan is looking to resolve those this summer ahead of what he hopes will be a promising second campaign in the dugout at Loftus Road.

Two seasons ago, club captain and natural centre-back Jimmy Dunne was deployed on the right side of the back four, and while he was solid there, his performances at centre-back throughout last term have proven why that's his main position.

Replacing the Irishman on the right last season was new arrival Amadou Mbengue, who came from Reading last summer. He became a fan favourite as the season went on at Loftus Road, but, like Dunne, the 24-year-old is a natural centre-back.

Sorting out the defence has been the main priority for QPR this summer, after they conceded the second-most goals in the Championship last year. The goalkeeper position has been addressed, and in Tariq Lamptey, the Hoops could have themselves one of the best right-backs in the division.

But the former Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea full-back's injury issues are extensive, and the Hoops could be looking to bolster the position even further this summer.

QPR battling West Brom in race for Brodie Spencer

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According to an exclusive report from Football League World, QPR are battling divisional rivals West Brom over the transfer of versatile Oxford United defender Brodie Spencer.

New Yellows boss Aaron Ramsey is facing a tough first summer transfer window at the Kassam Stadium, with the club currently under a transfer embargo and facing the prospect of some of their more Championship-standard players moving on in the next month, following their relegation to League One.

Spencer is one of those who could continue his career in the second tier, one year on from making the move to Oxford from Huddersfield Town. A right-back by trade, the 22-year-old can operate both on the left and in the middle of a back four, too, so is very attractive for Championship sides ahead of a long 46-game season.

While Lamptey is a very exciting arrival at Loftus Road, the 25-year-old played just twice for Fiorentina last season, and fewer than 1,000 Premier League minutes in each of his last three campaigns at Brighton.

More cover for the new arrival may be needed, and Spencer can offer that, plus an ability to cover other positions, too.

QPR fan pundit encouraged over Brodie Spencer links

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FLW's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, is pretty pleased with the links with Spencer, as he could offer a good alternative to Lamptey, who has many Hoops fans excited about his arrival, but there are still question marks over his availability for a long season.

"I don't know too much about Brodie Spencer, but having seen what he did at Oxford last season, he looked like a quite consistent, steady defender," he said.

"He's obviously still young, too, so he has a lot of talent and potential as well. He is very versatile, can play right-back, left-back, even centre half at times. He's tough-tackling and looks good in the air."

Kealey Adamson hardly featured in his debut campaign at Loftus Road, being back-up to a centre-back at right-back last season, and there'd be an expectation that the same could ring true if new signing Lamptey does get injured at some point in the campaign.

While Moir didn't mind Mbengue at right-back, and felt he improved in the position as the campaign went on, having a more natural player for the position to come in and maintain the level that QPR need to improve on their 15th-placed finish last season would be helpful.

"We've signed Lamptey, who is an incredible signing on a free, but last season we did have to play Mbengue and Dunne at right-back," the fan pundit continued.

"They're essentially two centre-halves, so even with Lamptey coming in, you can argue that we maybe need more cover at right back, but then we do have Mbengue and Dunne who can do a job there, and I felt Mbengue was growing into that role."

QPR fan pundit excited about Brodie Spencer's versatility across the back line

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Moir went on to speculate that perhaps the arrival of Spencer could be to offer backup across the back line, not just on the right, admitting that they needed left-back cover this summer as well.

Boy Kemper arrives as a natural first-choice option, having impressed at NAC Breda last season in the Eredivisie, but currently, 20-year-old Esquerdinha and an injury-prone Ziyad Larkeche are the only back-ups.

"You could see Spencer as cover at left-back, too," Moir explained. "Spencer has proved he can play there as well.

"Maybe the club are looking at him as someone with a lot of versatility and who could do a good job in the Championship. On paper, he's not a bad signing at all.

"He's not a name that gets people excited, like Lamptey was, but not every signing will be like that. He looks a decent player, his versatility is key, and that's probably the reason why we are looking at him."