QPR must strike agreement with 27-goal striker - it's a no brainer for Thorup if he joins | OneFootball

Johannes Hoff Thorup should make Charlie Kelman central to his plans if he takes over at QPR following his loan spell at Leyton Orient.

As uncertainty continues over the managerial position at the club, it is shaping up to be a big summer for Queens Park Rangers.

Despite being widely tipped to be one of the dark horses in the Championship, it was an underwhelming season for QPR, and after flirting with relegation at various points of the campaign, they eventually finished in 15th place.

While the R's season petered out to a disappointing conclusion on the pitch, the same cannot be said for events off the pitch, with head coach Marti Cifuentes being placed on gardening leave in the lead up to the final game after his representatives reportedly held talks with West Bromwich Albion.

After Cifuentes was ruled out of contention for the vacant managerial position at The Hawthorns, he still officially remains in charge at Loftus Road, but an announcement confirming his departure is expected in the not-too-distant future, and it seems the Hoops may already have identified the Spaniard's replacement.

Former Lyon manager Pierre Sage has been linked with QPR, but the club are reportedly closing in on the appointment of ex-Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup, and should the Dane take over in West London, he could potentially have a secret weapon at his disposal next season in the form of striker Charlie Kelman.

Charlie Kelman must be given QPR lifeline after Leyton Orient exploits

Kelman joined QPR from Southend United in October 2020, but he has made just 26 appearances for the club so far, failing to get on the scoresheet, and he has spent much of the past five years out on loan with the likes of Gillingham, Wigan Athletic and Leyton Orient.

After scoring seven goals in 47 games to help Orient to the League Two title in the 2022-23 season, Kelman returned to Brisbane Road for a second loan spell in the summer, and his arrival was greeted by a mixed reaction from supporters.

Given that Kelman had played a big role in the O's previous promotion success, some welcomed him back with open arms, but others questioned whether he would be able to deliver in League One, particularly as he had scored just three goals in 14 games during his loan spell at Wigan last season.

However, Kelman certainly proved the doubters wrong, scoring an incredible 27 goals and providing six assists in 61 appearances for Orient this season, finishing as the top scorer in the third tier ahead of the likes of Jay Stansfield, Matty Godden, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Richard Kone, Sam Smith and Alfie May.

Richie Wellens' side were languishing in the relegation zone in December, but a stunning run of form in the second half of the season saw them finish sixth in the table, and Kelman's brace in the play-off semi-final first leg against Stockport County was crucial in helping his side reach the final, even if he was clearly standing in an offside position for his first goal.

Unfortunately for Kelman and his team-mates, promotion proved to be a step too far as they were beaten 1-0 by Charlton Athletic in the final at Wembley on Sunday, with the attacking flair that was a hallmark of their surge up the table deserting them at the wrong time, but there is no doubt that the 23-year-old has emerged with serious credit from his time at Orient.

Johannes Hoff Thorup could be the perfect manager for Charlie Kelman at QPR

As Kelman prepares to return to QPR after his impressive spell at Orient, there are question marks over where his long-term future lies.

Before Kelman joined Wigan on loan last January, the R's tied him down to a new contract, which suggests that they have big plans for him at Loftus Road, but they may have to contend with interest from other clubs over the coming months.

As FLW exclusively revealed this week, Kelman is being tracked by as many as eight Championship clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, and while the identity of his suitors is unclear at this stage, it seems the Hoops may need to brace themselves for bids.

It looks certain that Kelman will be plying his trade in the second tier next season, whether that is at QPR or elsewhere, but if he is to take over at Loftus Road, Thorup should make the former USA youth international a central part of his team.

Finding a consistent goalscorer has been a problem for the R's in recent years, with Michael Frey finishing as their leading marksman this season with just nine goals, so the return of Kelman off the back of a 27-goal campaign could be a timely boost for his parent club.

Of course, there is no guarantee that Kelman will be able to replicate the form he showed for the O's in League One in the Championship, but he will certainly be full of confidence after his stint at Brisbane Road, and Thorup could be the ideal manager to get the best out of him.

While Thorup's reign at Norwich did not go as well as he would have hoped, the 36-year-old did succesfully manage to lower the average age of the squad, and he handed opportunities to a number of academy products, including the likes of Vicente Reyes, Lucien Mahovo, Elliot Myles and Gabriel Forsyth.

Thorup has established a reputation for developing young players during his spells managing in Denmark and England, so with that in mind, he would surely have no fear about giving Kelman a proper chance at QPR next season.

The Hoops should not only build their team around Kelman, but as interest mounts in his services, they should also consider offering him a new long-term contract, both to secure his immediate future and to ensure they can make a big profit on him in the years to come.