QPR backed to offload £15k-per-week star as 'bizarre' situation unfolds | OneFootball

Michael Frey is rumoured to be on the verge of an exit from QPR this January

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 is reportedly likely to leave Queens Park Rangers this January, with the Swiss striker struggling to perform in his limited minutes this campaign despite penning a new deal to remain in West London in the summer.

QPR's form this campaign has been up and down, to say the least.

Led by former Strasbourg and Stade Rennes head coach Julien Stephan, the R's have been tough to put a finger on this season, having been defeated 7-1 away to Coventry City earlier on in the campaign, but later smashing Leicester City and former boss Marti Cifuentes 4-1 at home.

Stephan has come under pressure on a couple of occasions so far in his tenure after joining the club this summer, but has often responded to a poor run of form with a good run of form.

Absent from much of this has been Swiss forward Michael Frey, who is reportedly likely to leave Loftus Road this winter, having been left out of the R's last two outings.

Frey, who signed fresh terms to remain with the club this summer on a reported £15k-per-week, according to Capology, has fallen in the pecking order since the arrival of Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell in the summer, and could well leave the club sooner rather than later.

Michael Frey is likely to leave QPR this January amid a lack of game time

Football League World's QPR fan pundit, Louis, has shared their thoughts on whether they believe parting ways with Frey is the correct thing to do this winter, or whether he would still be a good backup for the remainder of the season.

Louis said, "I was fairly happy when Frey signed a new deal. He showed last season he's capable of scoring goals, putting in a shift and being a real handful at times, and this season so far, every time he's come on, and I mean literally every time, he has done nothing. Absolutely had zero effect on games."But it's just a bizarre one because, obviously, he signed a new deal. You think, Kone and Burrell coming in, Frey's got to sort of work harder for his place and, with more quality and depth in that position, you'd think that would maybe bring more out of him. But no, he's just, he's not been at it at all."And obviously with rumours that he might leave this month, I mean, I wouldn't be against it at all. I think it's probably the right thing to do. Cut off a bit of wages so we could potentially get someone else, whether that's up front or in another position, but moving on free this month wouldn't be the worst thing to do at all."He's just had no effect. And you'd watch him thinking, you know, when he comes on and certainly away from home as well, you're going to expect what we've seen every single time again and again and again, and it's just pretty awful to watch."Fair play, like, he got himself fit sort of last season and showed that he could score a few goals and was good. He was a real handful in certain games, really played well. But no, he's not been at it."If we were to let him go this month, I really couldn't care less. Kone and Burrell have played a lot of minutes. They both don't look well at this moment in time. They don't look as threatening as they were."Kone is only coming back from injury. You could argue we need to bring in another striker. We'll get another striker this month as well if Frey does go. But hopefully, the wages and money cut from him leaving would allow us to sort of sign maybe a good goalkeeper or Ronnie Edwards, for example, in other positions. But yeah, Frey leaving, probably the best thing for him and us right now."

Michael Frey has dropped in the pecking order under Julien Stephan

This season, Frey has seen his minutes seriously limited since the arrival of Stephan in the R's dugout.

The Swiss forward was left out of the last two matchday squads against Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday, having played just over 300 minutes of league football this campaign without contributing to a goal or an assist.

The signings of Kone and Burrell have meant that, more often than not, Frey has been at least third choice, and whenever introduced for his limited minutes, has struggled to make any sort of positive impact.

At 31, the towering Swiss forward will want to be playing as many minutes as possible before his physical decline, something which he clearly isn't getting, and will unlikely get as long as he remains at QPR.

The departure of Frey would leave the R's somewhat short in that area of the pitch, and they may need to look for an alternative in the market should a sale of Frey be sanctioned.