Will Julien Stephan leave QPR? | OneFootball

There's been plenty of speculation on QPR manager, Julien Stephan's future, but what's the latest news on his rumoured exit?

QPR will be looking to show improvement heading into next year's Championship campaign, with their current season somewhat fizzling out.

The Hoops haven't got anything to play for on the final weekend of second tier action, which will be frustrating for the club's supporters, who have had to endure some frustrating years in the Championship.

Next year's campaign will be QPR's 11th consecutive year in the second tier, and considering they've not finished higher than ninth in that spell, it's crucial that they start to make a push in the right direction.

They've found wins hard to come by towards the end of the 2025/26 season, which has seen some supporters question whether manager Julien Stephan is the right person to take them forward.

Defeats to Derby County, Swansea City, and high-flying Millwall have seen Stephan's side tumble down the second tier standings, and it seems unlikely that they'll improve too much on last year's 15th-place finish.

Julien Stephan linked with QPR departure

It was revealed by journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter that a Ligue 1 side are pursuing a deal to lure Stephan away from his role in charge of QPR ahead of the 2026/27 league campaign.

Lille are name-dropped as one of the clubs that aren't in the running to strike a deal for the QPR boss, and so it remains to be seen as to which team is keen on landing his signature in the coming months.

Stephan would be no stranger to working in France's top-flight, having previously managed Rennes (on two separate occasions), and Strasbourg, before making the move to the MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium in June 2025.

What does the future hold for Julien Stephan at QPR?

For now, Stephan remains in charge at QPR, although there will be questions over whether he has a long-term future with the London-based club.

The Frenchman is heading into the final 12 months of his contract with the Hoops, and considering he's yet to sign a new deal, it's likely to be a speculation-filled year ahead.

Stephan has been quick to react to reports linking him with a summer departure from English football, and has stated that he's expecting to remain in charge for next year's Championship campaign.

“I am under contract with QPR and focused on QPR and nothing more. Yes (I expect to be here next season), I am under contract and I am only focused on QPR, so no question now.”

Have QPR been linked with a replacement for Julien Stephan?

Interestingly, QPR have been linked with a new manager ahead of the 2026/27 league campaign, with former Atlético Madrid and Chelsea full-back Filipe Luis emerging as a contender to take charge of the Hoops.

The Brazilian has caught the eye for all the right reasons whilst in charge of Flamengo, but the Brazilian giants announced that they terminated his deal immediately back in March 2026. He had a hugely impressive time in charge of Flamengo, winning seven trophies with them.

Luis was also named South American Coach of the Year in 2025, and is highly regarded, which is clear to see, as he's also been linked with the managerial vacancy at Chelsea.

For now though, Stephan seems to be remaining where he is, and it'll be interesting to see if he's given the trust from QPR's owners to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Championship season, where they'll be looking to challenge for a top-six finish.

If a Ligue 1 side are to come calling for Stephan's services with an official approach, then we're set for an intriguing few weeks from both the Frenchman and QPR, as the prospect of returning to the French top-flight could be too good to turn down.

A move seems considerably far away, but if an agreement is reached, then QPR are likely to react quickly in appointing any potential successor, as they look to plan ahead for the 2026/27 season.