Exclusive: QPR facing Bristol City threat in race to seal Wigan Athletic transfer | OneFootball

QPR are facing the threat of rival competition from Bristol City in the race to sign Wigan Athletic star Sam Tickle, Football League World understands

QPR are gearing towards a crucial summer transfer window as Julien Stephan bids to bolster his side towards competing for play-off contention following a mid-table finish in the Frenchman's debut campaign at Loftus Road and deals are already being worked on, although Football League World can exclusively reveal that Bristol City could be set to hand the Hoops a blow in the market by joining them in the race for one particular target.

The West London outfit finished Stephan's opening campaign in 15th position, having wound up the previous term there under ex-boss Marti Cifuentes. 2025/26 proved to be a season underlined by inconsistency and defensive frailties for QPR, who have no shortage of attacking talent and occasionally looked capable of marching up the table before ultimately failing to sustain such form.

There is hope, however, that Stephan's second season with the club can bear fruit, especially if ample backing is afforded in the upcoming window. QPR will also be aided by the expansion of the play-off spots to six sides heading into the 2026/27 term, having never truly threatened to return to the Premier League since suffering relegation in 2015.

Stephan now has a number of positions to address in the market throughout the summer months, with tightening up at the back and ensuring the arrival of a new and reliable goalkeeper poised to represent real priorities in the Loftus Road boardroom considering the volume of change between the sticks in the season just gone - which saw Ben Hamer, Paul Nardi and Joe Walsh all receive runs of games without ever nailing down their respective positions.

Rather unsurprisingly, a series of goalkeepers have already emerged on QPR's radar following the conclusion of the campaign, but one shot-stopper in particular is the subject of intensifying interest and the Hoops could receive a blow from a Championship rival in their efforts to get a deal over the line.

QPR facing Bristol City transfer threat in Wigan Athletic, Sam Tickle race

QPR will be hoping to bolster the goalkeeping department sooner rather than later as both Hamer and Nardi prepare to leave West London at the expiration of their contracts this summer, leaving only the aforementioned Walsh and returning loanee Murphy Cooper as Stephan's senior shot-stopping options at this moment in time.

That's exactly why they are in the running to acquire the services of Wigan Athletic's Sam Tickle, who, as first reported via Patreon by Alan Nixon of The Sun over the weekend, is being eyed up by the Hoops in a deal which could cost just £2 million - widely-viewed to represent a bargain price for a goalkeeper of the 24-year-old's age and quality.

Indeed, Nixon's report had claimed QPR to be leading the race for Tickle's signature, although Football League World can now exclusively reveal that a potential twist to the tale could play out.

FLW understands that Bristol City are set to battle QPR's efforts of taking Tickle away from the DW Stadium, with the Robins equally intent on sourcing a new goalkeeper in the summer window following the return of impressive loan star Radek Vitek to parent club Manchester United.

Sources are, it must be stressed, yet to suggest that QPR have lost any footing in the battle for this particular deal, although they are facing new competition in the wake of Michael Skubala's appointment at Ashton Gate and could encounter subsequent complications as efforts to seal the move are intensified.

Tickle, despite having never played in the Championship, has emerged among the most highly-rated goalkeepers in the EFL throughout recent seasons.

The one-cap ex-England U21 international broke into Wigan's first-team during the 2023/24 term and has remained there ever since, making 158 appearances across all competitions including a career-high 53 in the season just gone as the Latics finished in 16th.

He's been a consistently impressive figure in the North West and reportedly garnered interest from both Arsenal and Man United in 2024 before being linked with a move to Sheffield United in December of last year.

It does, however, appear increasingly likely that Tickle has completed his third and final season at Wigan, and as a move to the Championship surely beckons on the horizon, it will be interesting to see where he next ends up - but whether that's to be QPR, or Bristol City, waits to be seen