QPR must allow attacker exit - double transfer deal has changed everything | OneFootball

Michael Frey's time at QPR looks all but over after two summer arrivals have usurped him from the starting squad

Michael Frey's time at QPR should be drawing to a close this January, as the arrivals of Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell in the summer have completely changed his role in the side.

The Swissman arrived in 2024 with plenty of goalscoring prowess in Belgium, finishing second in the top flight's goalscoring ranks in 2021/22.

After a dud run in Germany with Schalke at the end of the following year and an injury-filled start to the 2023/24 season, he was ready to revitalise his career in the Championship when he arrived at Loftus Road midway through that campaign.

Two years later, however, after failing to set the division alight in his first full season and being left out of the starting eleven for the majority of the current campaign, it looks like he's on his way back out to earn more first-team football.

Nobody could have foreseen the impact a couple of League One strikers could have made in the Championship this season, but they've ultimately partnered together to limit Frey's game time and almost force him out the door at Loftus Road.

Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell's impact this season has been overwhelming for Michael Frey

QPR needed new attackers going into the new campaign. Zan Celar was loaned out to Fortuna Düsseldorf, and Charlie Kelman wasn't going to stick around after being deemed surplus to requirements ahead of his surprising loan spell at Leyton Orient last season.

So, the Hoops turned to League One and looked at some of the strikers who rivalled Kelman as the league's best striker last season.

Richard Kone was the standout, having won the third tier's Player and Young Player of the Year while at Wycombe Wanderers, finishing in the Team of the Season ahead of Kelman. But before then came Rumarn Burrell, a month earlier from Burton Albion.

Burrell was playing in the Scottish third tier during the 2023/24 campaign, so not many expected him to establish himself as a regular starter, and the expectations from many were that Kone and Frey would share the frontman spot, with the 25-year-old being an impact player from the bench.

Surprisingly enough, though, it's been the Jamaican who has been the standout striker at Loftus Road this season, scoring nine and providing three assists in the opening half of the campaign.

Kone is behind him on five goals, but the way he plays outside the conventional goals and assists has made him undroppable, too. The two link up perfectly and are one of the main reasons why Julien Stephan's side has been one of the more enjoyable sides to watch this season going forward.

Because of this, Frey, who recently agreed a new deal at the club back in September, has made just two starts all season. On both occasions, he was withdrawn on the hour mark in a home draw with Oxford United and a home defeat against Millwall.

While Burrell used his limited time off the bench at the start of the campaign to better his chances of starting games, the 31-year-old hasn't been able to do the same, and he's been out of the side completely in the last two games.

QPR's striker depth has outgrown Michael Frey - he needs to exit Loftus Road ASAP

With Kone being 22 years old, and Burrell 25, 31-year-old Frey unfortunately doesn't fit into the long-term plans for the striker position at Loftus Road. If all goes to plan, the new arrivals in the summer will lead the line for another three to four years together, you'd expect.

With Paul Smyth recently extending his stay, a wideman who can deputise up top, and 20-year-old Rayan Kolli coming through the ranks, too, Frey's position seems rather expendable now, and the Hoops may be wise to cash in.

West London Sport claim that "a number of clubs" are showing interest in the Swissman, so it doesn't seem too laborious a task to get him off the books at Loftus Road.

It'll be a disappointing end to his two-year stay in West London, but for many QPR fans, they'll be looking excitedly ahead towards the bright future that they have going forward with the partnership of Burrell and Kone.