QPR urged to sign "commanding" Nigerian star in January | OneFootball

The Rs have experimented with a few goalkeepers so far this season.

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...

Queens Park Rangers will be hoping to climb the table and put themselves in the promotion picture between now and the end of the season, but they may need to sign a new goalkeeper if they are going to be successful in doing that.

Joe Walsh, Paul Nardi and Ben Hamer have all started in goal this season, with a combination of injuries and poor form meaning that none of Julien Stephan's goalkeepers have been able to nail down a starting spot during the Frenchman's tenure so far.

Ahead of their trip to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night, only four Championship sides have conceded more goals than QPR, and three of them are in the relegation zone, so it is clear that something needs to change if the Rs are going to make a success of the 2025/26 campaign.

Football League World's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, has spoken about the current goalkeeping situation at Loftus Road, and he believes that signing a new number one could be what is needed to sort out those defensive issues.

QPR urged to explore deal for Nigerian goalkeeper

We asked Louis if there were any players who were linked with a move to QPR in the summer that he would like to see the club go back in for in January, and he did not hesitate to pick out a goalkeeper.

"I think it is evident that we are in desperate need of a new goalkeeper," Louis said.

"The situation with Paul Nardi has not been ideal. Obviously, when Joe Walsh was fit, he was starting at the beginning of the season, and he wasn't up to it.

"He then gets injured, Nardi comes back in. Nardi has looked poor. He has now been dropped again for Ben Hamer, who, obviously, is an experienced keeper, but I just don't know if he is exactly who you want in net.

"I just think we are lacking that confident keeper. It would help settle the defence as well, because if you have got someone in the sticks who is commanding and can take control, it is going to help massively.

"At this moment, the goalkeeper situation is holding us back a bit.

"There were rumours about us going back in for the Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. In the summer there were quite strong rumours surrounding that name, and I think he made it clear that he wanted to leave the club he is at.

"I remember at the time thinking about that potential move. The level that goalkeeper is at is not the best, but then if you are the Nigerian number one, and you have done well at tournaments, you can't be a bad keeper.

"It could be worth looking at him again in January, because, like I say, we need a new goalkeeper. We need to freshen up that goalkeeper department, and hopefully in January something can be done, because that could actually be a massive thing for us.

"If we can get that sorted, and make that goalkeeper position a good one, and make that signing, whoever it is, because we are obviously going to sign a goalkeeper in January or the summer.

"Let's see, but he is certainly someone who could fit that role."

Stanley Nwabali would likely be keen on a January move

QPR would likely have a good chance of convincing Nwabali to complete a move to England in January, as the 29-year-old previously stated his desire to leave South African side Chippa United in the summer of 2024, as per Soccernet.ng.

"Well, everyone would love to leave because when you are in some position, you need to grow, like everyone in my position would like to grow more," Nwabali said.

"I'm talking about clubs higher than this because I have been giving my all to my club this season.

"I just wish to have another challenge at some other place."

Now, more than a year later, Nwabali is still playing his football at Chippa United, so he would no doubt welcome an opportunity to come and experience a new challenge in the Championship with QPR at this stage of his career.

Whether the Nigeria international is the solution to QPR's goalkeeping problem is up for debate, as he would need to make a big step up from the South African top division, but his physical stature and experience for his country may well make him a suitable option.