QPR should repeat Kwame Poku, Peterborough United transfer swoop for Harrison Burrows 2.0 | OneFootball

Queens Park Rangers should target Harley Mills, who could be the perfect replacement for Kenneth Paal and their very own Harrison Burrows

Queens Park Rangers should look to repeat their Kwame Poku transfer strategy by targeting another Peterborough United gem in Harley Mills, who could be the perfect long-term replacement for the departed Kenneth Paal at Loftus Road.

With Paal's exit confirmed after his contract expired at the Hoops, QPR find themselves in need of a new left-back option for the upcoming Championship campaign.

Paal featured in 39 league matches for the West London outfit and managed to contribute to five goals throughout the 2024/25 season, scoring once and assisting four goals as the club finished 15th

While the R's have already demonstrated their astute eye for talent from League One's finest production lines with their £900k compensation deal for dynamic winger Poku, they should now turn their attention to another Peterborough starlet to help with their defensive needs.

Harley Mills could be the ideal Kenneth Paal replacement for QPR

Harley Mills has emerged as one of the most exciting young full-backs in League One following a breakthrough campaign that saw him progress from National League South football with Enfield Town to starring in Peterborough's EFL Trophy win at Wembley.

The 19-year-old's stunning free-kick in the 2-0 victory over Birmingham City showcased the kind of ball-striking ability that made Harrison Burrows such a sought-after talent at London Road for years in the same position.

Like Burrows before his Sheffield United move, Mills possesses the attacking qualities that modern full-backs require, and he's been described as having "a wonder of a left foot" by Posh's youth coaches - namely ex-EFL winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

His ability to contribute in the final third was evident when he not only scored that memorable Wembley goal, but also provided the assist for Hector Kyprianou to make it 2-0 - it was a Man of the Match-winning performance from the teenage full-back, in what was just his 15th appearance in a Posh shirt.

The parallels between Mills and his former Peterborough team-mate Burrows are striking. Sheffield United's head scout reportedly submitted a "must-sign" report on Mills as a potential Burrows replacement, saying they are "essentially the same player" - Burrows moved to South Yorkshire for a reported £6 million in 2024, but Peterborough may not be so lucky with the fee for Mills.

Harley Mills' contract situation presents golden opportunity for QPR

Perhaps most crucially for QPR's recruitment strategy, Mills finds himself in the final year of his Peterborough contract, with negotiations over a new deal remaining unresolved.

This situation mirrors the circumstances that allowed the R's to secure Poku for a relatively modest compensation fee, rather than facing the inflated prices that come with contracted players in today's market.

Mills' contract uncertainty has already attracted significant attention, with Premier League side Fulham submitting a £1m bid, as per a FLW exclusive back in late May, and Celtic also reportedly joining the race for his signature.

However, QPR's recent success in convincing Poku to choose Loftus Road over clubs with "significantly bigger budgets" does demonstrate their ability to compete for top young talent.

Their £900k deal for Poku, which included valuable add-ons and sell-on clauses, provides a template for how they could structure a similar move for Mills.

With Posh's chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, indicating the club would prefer to sell players in their final contract year rather than lose them for nothing, there is a clear pathway to a potential deal.

Harley Mills would offer bags of potential for QPR if they decide to make a move

While Mills may lack the extensive first-team experience that some second-tier clubs might demand, his rapid progression tells a story of a player ready for the next step.

Having started the 24/25 season on loan at Enfield Town in the sixth tier of English football, Mills worked his way back into Peterborough's plans and became their first-choice left-back. By the end of the campaign, he made a total of 11 appearances in League One.

The fact that he 'fought off' Poku for free-kick duties at Wembley, before delivering with that finish, shows he has both confidence and quality in high-pressure moments - which is ceryainly needed in the Championship.

Ultimately, potentially signing Mills is another chance for QPR to unearth a gem before his value skyrockets, and it may give them their own Harrison Burrows for a fraction of what he cost Blades.