QPR transfer verdict issued on Sinclair Armstrong amid Bristol City exit talk - it's "not a surprise" | OneFootball

Armstrong has failed to kick on at Ashton Gate, and it has come as little shock to FLW's R's fan pundit

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

There could be a post-deadline transfer in the offing at Bristol City involving striker Sinclair Armstrong - and that's bound to pique the interest of those of a QPR persuasion.

The R's decided to cash in on the Dublin-born forward last summer, with his contract expiring the following summer, and it was Bristol City who won the battle to sign Armstrong, fending off Stoke City to land a £2.5 million deal.

It hasn't gone to plan for the 22-year-old at Ashton Gate though, who scored just three times from his 37 Championship appearances last season, and despite remaining at City beyond the September 1 EFL transfer deadline, there are still other windows across the world that are open - including Türkiye.

Their transfer window closes on Friday, and as first revealed by Lorenzo Lepore, Super Lig side Goztepe - who are ran by Southampton's owners Sport Republic - submitted a €1m bid for Armstrong's services, with the offer including a sell-on clause too.

City turned down that particular transfer bid, and they are not "actively looking" to part ways with Armstrong, as per BristolLive, but a deal could be done if the terms are acceptable.

QPR lauded for Sinclair Armstrong sale after latest Bristol City development

QPR will be an interested party in any potential transfer, although with their sell-on clause entitling them to 20 per cent profit on any sale that Bristol City make, as per The Athletic, then it looks as though no cash will be heading to west London at the current price, and it would have to be around the £5 million mark for the R's to make anything significant (if it were a £5 million sale, then QPR would recieve £500,000).

And when asked as to how impressive QPR's decision to cash in on Armstrong looks now with City set to potentially make a loss on him, FLW's Hoops fan pundit Louis Moir believes that his club got a great deal in hindsight for the Irishman, given his lack of productivity in-front of goal.

"This is obviously a bit of a strange transfer potentially for Sinclair Armstrong, but it's one where you've got to look at it and think it's not a surprise," Louis told FLW.

"He's not developed since leaving us, if anything he's got worse, and you look at the deal we got for him and that was quite something.

"He hardly scored any goals and it was just because of that potential he had, his pace and strength, clubs were looking at him thinking they'd take a chance on him, and if he were to add goals he'd be unbelievable.

"So many times he had chances, I'd be surprised now if he kicks on and develops. He doesn't have that natural knack of scoring goals, he cannot finish, and I think with his pace and strength, that can only take him so far.

"He struggled with us at the back end, we sell him and Bristol City fans clearly don't rate him at all. Could it happen outside of England in a worse quality of league? Potentially, but he's not up to it, and it's a shame it never worked out at QPR because when we got him in as a youngster and I saw a few games and thought 'Who is this kid?'

"I'd never seen a player at his age who'd had such pace and strength, and I thought he'd had a few chances, got a couple of goals and thinking this guy could be unbelievable. But he just doesn't have that finishing instinct, he can't score goals, he scored a couple for Bristol City last season...

"Don't get me wrong, his pace and strength is an absolute joke, but if you're not going to score goals and you're a striker...the last few years have passed him by and he hasn't done anything.

"So, it's going to be tough for him, and I'm not surprised Bristol City are looking to get rid of him already."

QPR may have hit the jackpot with their Sinclair Armstrong decision in 2024

Armstrong is a player that for a few seasons now, people have been waiting to explode into a goalscorer - but it's just never really happened for him.

As Louis alluded to, the raw assets of his quickness and strength on the ball are there for all to see and have been for a number of years, but the move to Bristol City was, for the Robins at least, set to unlock his goalscoring potential.

It just hasn't happened though, and in the last two full Championship seasons for QPR and Bristol City, Armstrong has scored just six times in 76 appearances - which just isn't good enough for a centre-forward.

Eight big chances missed last season as well for City shows that perhaps QPR really were right to cash in for the right price on Armstrong, and even though they won't see their sell-on clause that was included in his sale activated, the hierarchy at least know they made the right decision to cash in when they did.