QPR are firmly in the fight to retain their championship status, but there’s reason to be hopeful with Marti Cifuentes in charge.
QPR endured a dismal first few months of the season, leading to Gareth Ainsworth’s exit. A swift change in direction was made, bringing in Marti Cifuentes from Hammarby in a bid to turn around their fortunes.
There were positive signs in his first few games, and the R’s now have back-to-back wins to their name, beating Preston and Stoke City. Their eyes will still be on January as a great chance to strengthen the squad for a championship survival fight, though.
With that said, here are three transfer actions QPR must take in January.
A move for Kelman
Kelman gained some momentum with a decent Leyton Orient stint last season, but his chances have been limited again this season. He’s played in the last five games, but all have been brief substitute appearances.
At 22, he needs meaningful minutes. His deal is up in 2024, so a sale could be best for all, but if he does figure in Cifuentes’ QPR plans, a new deal and a loan could be best.
New Dixon-Bonner deal
One player who definitely warrants a new contract is Elijah Dixon-Bonner. He too is out of contract next summer, and amid his recent performances under Cifuentes, it wouldn’t be a surprise if interest emerged if his contract situation went unresolved.
Many viewed him as a promising player who could get a long-awaited chance under the new boss, and he’s taken that chance brilliantly. Dixon-Bonner could be a great asset for QPR in the years to come, so tying him down to fresh terms is a must.
Proven goalscorer signing
Last but not least is to address the most obvious issue of them all: scoring goals.
Dykes has been a fairly reliable scorer at championship level before, but the goals haven’t flowed this season. He’s shown how valuable he can be as a presence up top, though, so it could be that QPR searches for a goalscoring winger or midfielder rather than a starting striker.
However, be it up top, out wide, or in midfield, QPR has to add a proven goalscorer in January. It should be their top priority.
Queens Park Rangers: Boss Marti Cifuentes says team is moving forward
Queens Park Rangers manager Marti Cifuentes says the team is making “small steps” every day as they move away from a “bad dynamic.”
Rangers won back-to-back games for the first time this season with a 2-0 win at Preston North End on Friday.
That came after a 4-2 win against Stoke City ended a 12-match winless run.
“It’s not easy when you come into the middle of the season with a team that is in a bad dynamic,” Cifuentes told BBC Radio London.
“I see small steps every day in the way they are training and the way we want to play.
“I’m especially pleased for the identity of the team.”
Second-half goals from Paul Smyth and Chris Willock secured the win at Deepdale, but Cifuentes says the performance in the first 45 minutes was still a long way from where he wants the side to be.
“The team understood we needed to do more, and when we scored the first goal (at Preston), we chased the second—that is a very healthy signal about a side that wants to play football in a certain way,” the 41-year-old Spaniard added.
“That is understanding as well that we have to work hard and understand the picture of the game as it was in the first half.”
Cifuentes replaced Gareth Ainsworth as manager on October 30 and last week said he wants to replicate Terry Venables’ attacking game, which the former England manager imprinted on Loftus Road.
“We are starting to see some signals, but I want to see us play better—the way we defend, attack, and make transitions—there is still a way to go to see the expression we want as a team,” Cifuentes added.
QPR now have two home games in a row against Hull City on Saturday and Plymouth on Wednesday, December 13.
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