QPR, Julien Stephan sent transfer warning about 'money we can't turn down' | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit has outlined the players he expects to depart the club this summer

Back-to-back wins for QPR, including an impressive 6-1 demolition of Portsmouth last time out, have all but secured their Championship safety this season.

However, with inconsistent results and a defensive record that leaves them second-bottom to Sheffield Wednesday, it may prove difficult to close the 10-point gap to the top six in their final 7 games of the campaign.

Therefore, the focus at Loftus Road is now shifting towards what their side will look like next season. With two extra play-off spots up for grabs, QPR will be hopeful that they can mount a legitimate top-eight charge next season and perhaps even secure a Premier League return for the first time since the 2014/15 campaign.

Evidently, the Hoops' strengths lie in their frontline. They've scored the most goals out of any side not in the top eight, and in Richard Kone and Rayan Kolli, plus Rumarn Burrell and Kwame Poku, who are hopefully set to undergo an uninterrupted season next year, they're more than set up top.

QPR fan pundit highlights who may depart Loftus Road this upcoming summer

It's not rocket science to see where Julian Stephan's side needs improving this summer, and that's in their goalkeeper and defensive departments.

The Hoops have been let down numerous times in between the sticks this season, and while they bolstered their backline in January by bringing in Ronnie Edwards, an injury-ravaged and ageing back line has led to poor defensive stats throughout the year.

FLW's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, has listed numerous players currently at Loftus Road who would need to make way for new faces at the back.

"I can see a few leaving in the summer on loan or permanently," he said.

"If you start with the goalkeeper situation, I'll be surprised if Ben Hamer is still here, and Paul Nardi will definitely be moved on.

"Then, in defence, Steve Cook's time at QPR could be over. Liam Morrison has seemingly fallen out of favour, and we might try to loan him out again, or even get some money for him, and I don't think the club can trust Jake Clarke-Salter, so he may be moved on.

"Ziyad Larkeche may come back from injury, but I don't think he's good enough, although we haven't seen much of him since he's been at the club. But I don't think he'd be up for it, as he's another with big injury problems, and he may want to be first-choice, which I don't see happening."

Those players fall into a couple of categories, in that they're either ageing, such as 38-year-old Hamer, or 34-year-old Cook, or they've been injured for large parts of their Hoops' career (Larkeche hasn't played for the club since 2024, and Clarke-Salter's made just 20 Championship appearances since the start of last season).

With QPR undergoing a bit of a direction change last summer, with the focus on bringing in young, up-and-coming stars, it would make sense for those to be let go, paving the way for a similar recruitment strategy in the coming summer.

QPR may accept good money for current star players, believes fan pundit

Continuing from defensive players to those in the midfield and in attack, Moir feels that, in order for the club to bring in more exciting talents, some current players may need to be sold to balance the books.

As in the past, he's highlighted midfielder Jonathan Varane as someone that the club may listen to bids for, but has also not turned down the possibility that one of Kone or Burrell could move on, if a good offer came in for them.

"In terms of midfielders, I think Kieran Morgan will go out on loan, and possibly Jonathan Varane, who has had major interest in him in the past, could depart, too, as we're going to have to sell one of two players," he explained.

"And in terms of strikers, I'll be shocked if either Kone or Burrell goes, but if money comes in, and it's money we can't turn down, there could be something happening there, too."

Ultimately, the main focus will be on picking up where they left off in January and freshening up the back-line to add more players with the quality of someone like Edwards to build a more well-rounded side.

Moir is intrigued to see what his club does in the summer, and after the last couple of transfer windows, he's quietly confident that QPR will come out on the other side a better club than they are currently.

"The main ones are the keepers and Cook. When you talk about permanent deals, they'll be gone, and we'll have to see what happens with anyone else," the fan pundit concluded.

"We may have some of the younger players going out on loan. Alfie Lloyd could be someone that the club gets money for as well, as I don't think he's Championship-ready.

"I wouldn't be against players moving, as it would free up space and wages, and I'm confident that we'd sign some good replacements as well."