QPR, Middlesbrough 'make contact' with ex-Chelsea ace amid managerial situation | OneFootball

The Hoops and Boro are reportedly monitoring Filipe Luis ahead of the summer

Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough have very different circumstances to focus on in the final weeks of the current Championship season, with the latter hoping they can end a nine-year exile from the Premier League under Kim Hellberg.

After two previously failed second tier play-off campaigns in both 2018 and 2023 at the hands of Aston Villa and Coventry City, the Reds are firmly within the race for promotion once again.

However, whether they prove to be successful on the automatic or play-off front remains to be seen, having fallen behind the likes of Ipswich Town, Millwall and Southampton in recent weeks, with a mammoth encounter to come against the Tractor Boys at Portman Road on Sunday lunchtime.

It is, unsurprisingly, the biggest game of the Teesside outfit's season, with the Swede certainly far from impressed with his side's recent showings, in which they have gone winless in six Championship games, with their last success coming against the aforementioned Hoops at Loftus Road on March 8th.

Regardless of what happens from here on in, it has already been a dramatic enough campaign at the Riverside Stadium, with Hellberg replacing Rob Edwards in November after his controversial exit to the Premier League's bottom club, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

At the time of his appointment, Hellberg's contract length at the club was not disclosed, after Boro had parted with a £250,000 fee to prize him away from Swedish Allsvenskan side, Hammarby IF.

However, in a surprise turn of events, it now also remains to be seen how much longer Hellberg may be with the North East club, whilst the same may be said for Julien Stephan in West London, and Ed Still, who is currently head coach at divisional rivals, Watford.

Middlesbrough, QPR and Watford FC plot potential Filipe Luis managerial raid

As per a fresh update from Sport Witness, all three of the second tier rivals are eyeing a potential managerial swoop for ex-Brazil, Chelsea and Atlético Madrid full-back, Filipe Luis.

The publication have claimed that Rangers and Middlesbrough are the two of the three sides to have already held initial contact.

Meanwhile, Watford, who are now on their third head coach of the current season as a result of Still replacing Javi Gracia earlier in 2026, after the Spaniard had returned to Vicarage Road in place of Paulo Pezzolano, are said to have a lesser interest in the services of the 40-year-old.

The report also claims that this is a situation which has been ongoing behind-the-scenes without much discourse, and that, amid links with Corinthians, one Championship side had already begun talks.

It has been stated that the trio of sides are likely to have been impressed with Luis' record at Brazilian Serie A side, Flamengo, whom he was sacked by on March 3rd, despite having a trophy-laden 100 game stint with the Rio de Janeiro outfit.

Middlesbrough will hope Filipe Luis talk doesn't distract from promotion bid

As previously mentioned, two of the three sides reportedly linked with Luis have nothing but pride to play for at this stage, whilst Boro have four, and potentially a further three matches afterwards, to play.

Instability at this point could prove extremely detrimental to those chances of promotion, and Hellberg may also not be pleased with speculation coming out at a critical point of the campaign.

After their clash with Ipswich, Middlesbrough have Sheffield Wednesday, Watford and Wrexham to play, with the latter of those, in particular, potentially a must-win game for both sides in the promotion and play-off race depending on results.