Exclusive: Why Don Goodman predicts "extremely exciting" season for QPR in 25/26 | OneFootball

Queens Park Rangers have been backed to perform strongly next season

Queens Park Rangers recently completed the well-documented transfer of Kwame Poku, which has got the Loftus Road faithful excited about what the 2025/26 Championship campaign could have in store.

The 23-year-old winger was the subject of much interest from the likes of Rangers, Swansea City and Birmingham City after leaving League One side Peterborough United, but opted for a move to QPR in a stunning deal for the Hoops.

New manager Julien Stephan now has quite the frontline at his disposal after replacing Marti Cifuentes, with the likes of Karamoko Dembele and Ilias Chair both also deadly options within the QPR fold.

Charlie Kelman has also returned to the R's following a blockbuster loan move to Leyton Orient, where he scored 27 goals and provided six assists, while they turned heads by tying down Jimmy Dunne to a new contract amid fierce interest from Sheffield United.

There is a growing school of thought that QPR could be something of a "dark horse" in the second-tier next term following last season's 16th-placed finish, and with good reason.

The West London outfit have shown no shortage of ambition, both by appointing Stephan and beating a clutch of suitors to Poku's signature.

Don Goodman predicts exciting 2025/26 campaign for QPR

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former EFL striker, Don Goodman, believes next season could be one to remember for QPR.

In Goodman's view, Poku's addition indicates the level of ambition that QPR are going to show in the market this summer, which he believes could leave them well-placed to ruffle Championship feathers come August.

Although Goodman acknowledges that it's going to be a "very competitive Championship" next time around, he thinks QPR's wealth of attacking talent is a cause for considerable excitement.

“Kwame Poku is an absolutely brilliant signing for QPR,” said Goodman. “And this could be a sign that Queen's Park Rangers are going to show some ambition in the transfer market.

“They've already persuaded Jimmy Dunne, who a lot of people thought would have been a shoo-in to leave, to sign a new deal. So, the signs are positive if you're a Queens Park Rangers fan.

“When you throw Karamoko Dembele into that mix it’s extremely exciting. He will have the opportunity to get himself really fit and do better this coming season, he's a tricky customer.

“They also have Ilias Chair, and it could be a real good forward line that Queens Park Rangers are able to field next season in what is going to be a very, very competitive Championship.”

QPR could be the Championship’s dark horse next season

The summer of 2025 started in pessimistic fashion for Queens Park Rangers, as former boss Marti Cifuentes had made his intention to exit the club clear in April.

This led to him being placed on gardening leave, with supporters beginning to worry about what direction the Hoops were heading in for the 2025/26 campaign.

However, that mood has quickly turned on its head.

Barnsley ‘keeper Murphy Cooper joined the club shortly before Stephan's appointment was confirmed. The Hoops then acquired Reading defender Amadou Mbengue and right-back Kealey Adamson before Poku signed on.

Now, the Loftus Road faithful have good reason to feel extremely optimistic about the upcoming season, with their squad looking to have improved massively when compared to last term.

An attack featuring Dembele, Chair and Poku will cause nightmares for defences throughout the division and they could also have an exciting young forward leading the line if Kelman does decide to remain at the club.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising to see QPR pushing towards the sharp end of the Championship if Stephan can get his new additions working well.