Sources: QPR star wanted by 8 Championship clubs with Loftus Road exit possible | OneFootball

Charlie Kelman looks set to be playing Championship football one way or another next season.

Eight Championship clubs are monitoring QPR striker Charlie Kelman's situation after his return to Loftus Road following the conclusion of his Leyton Orient loan spell, sources have informed Football League World.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a superb season on loan with the Orient, bagging 27 goals and six assists in 61 total appearances for the League One side.

However, following their play-off final defeat to Charlton, Kelman will now return to parent club QPR, where an uncertain long-term future awaits for him.

Eight Championship clubs circling QPR striker Charlie Kelman

Sources have told Football League World that Kelman is being tracked by as many as eight Championship clubs heading into the summer transfer window.

Whilst no clubs have been named, a potentially huge second tier transfer battle looks set to occur for the young centre-forward.

Prior to being placed on gardening leave at the end of the season, former Hoops boss Marti Cifuentes revealed in February that a decision would be made on Kelman's future this summer.

The striker extended his R's contract in January 2024, and whilst no official expiration date has been revealed on that deal, West London Sport journalist David McIntyre claimed in February that the QPR man is not out of contract at Loftus Road this summer.

Kelman was signed by QPR from Southend United in October 2020, but has made just 26 first-team appearances for the R's since, failing to provide a single goal or assist in that time too.

QPR will surely be tempted to hand Charlie Kelman Loftus Road chance next season after Leyton Orient spell

QPR have struggled to find a real goalscorer in recent times.

Michael Frey's eight league goals were enough to crown him the club's top scorer this season, whilst Ilias Chair's seven in 2023/24 and Lyndon Dykes' eight in 2022/23 mean Andre Gray's 10-goal 2021/22 campaign was the last time the Hoops had a double-digit goalscorer in the league (per FotMob).

Therefore, the R's are evidently crying out for a natural goalscorer in attack, and Kelman could be exactly that.

At 23, he's still got plenty of room to grow and develop into the finished article, which could be a very smart player indeed given his 23-goal season in League One with Leyton Orient this term.

So, despite the fact he's yet to find the back of the net as a QPR player, had the club signed him from Leyton Orient off the back of a 27-goal season in all competitions, it's safe to assume many R's fans would be highly excited about the prospect of adding him to their team.

Surely then, QPR could do worse than to retain the services of Kelman this summer, and hand him his big Loftus Road chance next season.

Otherwise, should they sell him to another Championship rival and he does indeed translate his goalscoring form from League One into second tier football, the Hoops will be left at major risk of having egg on their face.