QPR struck gold with Blackpool transfer - Harry Redknapp was key to getting deal done | OneFootball

Matt Phillips had a stellar spell at QPR, with Harry Redknapp being the man to thank for bringing him to Loftus Road.

During the summer of 2013, Queens Park Rangers were gearing up for their return to the Championship after relegation from the Premier League.

Led by Harry Redknapp, the R’s finished at the foot of the top-flight table and were aiming to build a squad good enough to deliver success in the second-tier and return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

During the summer transfer window of the 2013-14 campaign, QPR recruited a significant number of players to attack the Championship, with the likes of Niko Kranjcar, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Charlie Austin all linking up in West London.

The Hoops also secured the addition of winger Matt Phillips from Blackpool, with the then 22-year-old moving to Loftus Road for a reported fee of £5 million.

Despite Phillips’ QPR spell lasting only three seasons, he would go on to reward that price tag, helping contribute to the West London outfit getting back into the Premier League and undergoing a purple patch in the big time.

Harry Redknapp would be the man to thank for adding the quality of Phillips into the squad, with the attacker revealing that the then R’s boss was pivotal in his decision to join the club.

Harry Redknapp played a big part in Matt Phillips, QPR arrival

After signing on the dotted line for QPR back in 2013, Matt Phillips explained the reasons for his move, detailing that Harry Redknapp was key to the deal getting over the line.

As reported by the BBC, Phillips said: "QPR are a club with huge ambition.

"The direction in which the club is heading, with the signings that have already been made this summer, it seems like the perfect time to come here."

"We all know what Harry Redknapp is about and, personally, I can't wait to play for him.

"I've had a taste of the Premier League and nothing would please me more than to help get QPR back into the top flight.

"I'm relishing the opportunity to play for the club."

Meanwhile, Redknapp added: "Matt's got a big, big future ahead of him in the game.

"I like having wingers in my teams and he's very direct. He can take people on and make things happen.

"He's quick, he gets at people, he can make goals, and he can score goals."

Matt Phillips would go on to be a successful signing for QPR

Matt Phillips would go on to replicate all the things Harry Redknapp outlined he could do, but the beginning of his time at QPR didn’t quite go according to plan.

He desperately struggled for form early on in the capital, registering only three goals and as many assists before his misery was compounded by suffering a broken leg in early February 2014, which forced him to sit out the remainder of the R's promotion campaign.

On their return to the top-flight, he failed to make any impact at all from August through to January, spending most of that period on the substitutes’ bench.

But something clicked at the beginning of February when the Buckinghamshire-born attacker was given an extended run from the start, which contributed to an uptake in form.

In a sharp contrast that regularly saw him complete 90 minutes, Phillips clocked up 11 goal contributions across QPR's last 14 games of that relegation campaign, including a wonder strike away to Crystal Palace that is remembered for being one of the greatest strikes ever to be graced in the top-flight.

Such a purple patch saw Phillips record three goals and eight assists across the term, but his best efforts weren’t enough as QPR were once again resigned to the foot of the Premier League table and playing Championship football in 2015-16.

That term would prove to be Phillips’ final one in the blue and white hoops, with the attacker featuring in 44 of their 46 league games.

Phillips would go on to notch eight goals and five assists, and while it only helped them to secure a 12th-placed finish, he was a vital part of QPR not being drawn into a relegation battle, with Phillips proving that he could be a dangerous asset in the top two divisions of English football.

After having a consistently positive last two seasons in West London, Phillips was snapped up by then-Premier League outfit West Brom for a reported fee of £6 million, much to the disappointment of QPR supporters, who would have loved to see him stay and help drag them back into the big time.

Overall, QPR had a decent return on the pitch from the sizeable investment they paid Blackpool, with Phillips’ willingness to take on and beat opposition defenders and quality to regularly create and finish chances ensuring that R’s fans will look back on his time with fond memories.

His achievements of contributing to promotion and stepping up to the challenge of the Premier League when others couldn’t definitely deserve to be recognised, while the club did make a slight profit on his sale, so there are not many things to be too unhappy with about his time at the club.

Phillips was a superb servant to QPR who always gave maximum effort, but was a player to back it up with both quality and consistency.