QPR confirms interest in the £427k ‘exceptional’ replacement for Ilias Chair.

This summer, QPR might be looking to add a winger, and a possible target has surfaced in Belgium.

This summer, Thibaud Verlinden has surfaced as an early target for QPR, who are expected to be looking for a winger. The 24-year-old is presently with K Beerschot VA, and there are rumours that the Rs are considering a move for the talented player.

Verlinden might be available for €500,000 (£427,000), according to Belgian publication Gazet van Antwerpen. The player would bring Championship experience to Loftus Road. The winger began his career with Stoke City and also spent time on loan at Bolton Wanderers. Nathan Jones praised the player when he made his Stoke debut, calling him “outstanding.”

The midfielder only made 13 first team games for Stoke in the Championship, so it never quite worked out for him. After departing from the Potters in January 2021, he lived briefly in Slovakia and the Netherlands before coming back to Belgium and joined Beerschot in 2022. Since then, he has made 63 appearances, tallying 11 goals and 17 assists, which has helped the squad be promoted from the second level this season.

Although he can play on the right, the player is typically used on the left wing. The uncertainty surrounding Chris Willock’s and Ilias Chair’s fate at QPR for the upcoming campaign may intensify rumours that the Belgian is on the verge of leaving.

“He knows how much we rate him, and I think he knows how much we like him,” Cifuentes remarked in reference to Willock’s contract that was scheduled to expire last month.

But I’m not sure what will occur in the future. Undoubtedly, he demonstrated tonight his love for this club and his desire to play here and support us.”

Although Chair’s contract with the team expires in the summer of 2020, Trabzonspor made an offer for him early this year, raising doubts over whether he will remain at QPR for the upcoming campaign.

Following the team’s 4-0 victory over Leeds United, Cifuentes was questioned about the significance of Chair to his team and responded, “I think good players always show up in the key moments and he shows he’s a top player for us.” I’m overjoyed with his performance. Ilias was undoubtedly excellent, but it would be dishonest to single him out for praise when there were so many other excellent individual performances.”