QPR won’t believe their luck with £2.75m transfer deal - It already looks a massive bargain | OneFootball

Richard Kone has enjoyed a fine start to life at QPR, with his £2.75m transfer looking a bargain for the Championship side.

It was a summer of major change at Queens Park Rangers, with new boss Julien Stephan conducting a squad overhaul during the window.

Unsurprisingly, that has resulted in an inconsistent start, with the low point undoubtedly coming as QPR were humiliated at Coventry as they lost 7-1.

However, to their credit, the team have bounced back from that embarrassing display by recording back-to-back wins, the latest of which came at Wrexham - and one player is gaining plenty of plaudits.

Richard Kone has shown his quality at QPR after summer arrival from Wycombe

Whilst it has been a team effort, there’s no denying that the form of Richard Kone is exciting the QPR fans - and it’s easy to see why.

After grabbing his first goal for the Hoops with a late consolation in the heavy Sky Blues’ loss, Kone followed that up with another goal in the win over Charlton.

And, the summer signing made it three in three thanks to a terrific individual effort against Wrexham on Saturday, with the 22-year-old firing into the top corner from outside the box.

It’s not just the different types of goals that will have pleased Stephan, as Kone’s all-round game has also been impressive. He has real physicality that makes him difficult to stop, and he has the pace to run in behind and stretch the opposition defence.

Yet, we know that all strikers are judged on goals, and it has been a problem for the R’s in recent years - they have lacked a clinical number nine who can find the net on a regular basis. Incredibly, they haven’t had a player hit double figures in the past three years.

Of course, it’s too early to proclaim Kone as the answer, but it would be a major shock if he didn’t change that stat, and perhaps even before Christmas.

The immediate aim for Kone and QPR is for the striker to continue this form, and to see where it takes the Londoners.

Even though many outside of Loftus Road wouldn’t expect QPR to be in the play-off hunt, the group will be determined to defy the odds, and having a striker who scores regularly can often make the difference.

We must reiterate that it’s early days, but Kone is also looking like he will be a shrewd investment for the club.

Obviously, we’re not suggesting an exit is going to happen any time soon, but the reality is that part of the long-term project at QPR will involve player trading, and it’s about developing individuals and making a profit down the line.

From that perspective, the Kone deal is looking like outstanding business, with QPR paying just £2.75m for the striker in the summer window. That could rise to £5m if add-ons are met, but, even so, it is a deal that is looking like a real bargain.

At 22, Kone is a player who is still years away from his peak, and there are still areas of his game that he must work on, which is understandable considering he didn’t play his first professional game until January 2024.

Ultimately, all transfer business is better judged over a period of months, but Kone has already made a contribution for QPR, and the early signs suggest this could turn out to be not just one of the best deals QPR made this summer, but by any club in the Championship.