QPR in transfer battle to sign 'creative playmaker' for 2026/27 | OneFootball

QPR are among a host of clubs keen on FC Lugano midfielder Yanis Cimignani.

QPR are gearing up for Julien Stephan’s second full season in charge at Loftus Road, and there will be a belief that they can benefit from the new play-off format.

With the top eight now having a chance of winning promotion to the Premier League, the 2026/27 Championship season is going to be extremely competitive.

Yet, the R’s don’t have the resources of many rivals at this level, so they have to be smart with the signings they do make, and their recent record in the market has been relatively positive, as they look to build a young, dynamic group.

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QPR tracking FC Lugano’s Yanis Cimignani

The Londoners will hope to be active over the coming weeks as the new season gets closer, and Stephan will have several positions that he wants to address before the deadline.

Bringing in a new central midfielder is likely to be one of the priorities, and it appears QPR have a potential signing in mind, as journalist Rudy Galetti revealed that they are keen on FC Lugano’s Yanis Cimignani.

The 24-year-old has spent the past three years with the Swiss club, and he enjoyed a fine individual campaign last time out, playing in 35 games as FC Lugano finished third, which has brought qualification to the Conference League. He's described as a versatile left-footed winger and midfielder known for his creative playmaking, dribbling, and tactical intelligence.

Cimignani’s form hasn’t gone unnoticed, and QPR won’t have a free run at the Frenchman, as the update also states that Schalke, Hamburg, Venezia and AEK Athens are also keen on the player.

Obviously, if any of those clubs do firm up their interest, it may be difficult for QPR to convince Cimignani to drop to the Championship, as they can all offer top flight football.

It does feel inevitable that FC Lugano will cash in on Cimignani this summer, as his contract with the club is set to expire in 2027 as it stands.

QPR are right to target players like Yanis Cimignani this summer

Clearly, this is going to be a difficult deal for QPR to do when you look at the competition for Cimignani’s signature, particularly as there is Bundesliga interest.

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Nevertheless, QPR will appeal to players, as they can offer regular football in a good league, and they will have ambitions of reaching the Premier League.

Even though the majority of fans will not have seen Cimignani play, it’s fair to say he fits the profile for the type of player they should be targeting.

At 24, he is someone who could make an instant impact, but he is still young enough to develop, and he also has plenty of football under his belt at a decent level, which includes an impressive season last time out for his club.

Furthermore, his contract situation means FC Lugano would not be in a position to demand a massive sum, so it could be a realistic deal for QPR to do in terms of their budget.

This suggests that plenty of work is going on in the background for new recruits, which will encourage QPR fans, as they will feel that several new signings are needed ahead of the Championship opener at Portsmouth on August 15.