FLW Identifies Three QPR Players Who May Leave in January
As the 2023/24 Championship season unfolds, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) find themselves in a precarious position, and the upcoming January transfer window could hold the key to their survival hopes. After narrowly escaping relegation in the previous season, optimism for an improved campaign was short-lived. The club’s early promise has quickly faded, and they now face a daunting six-game winless streak, including four losses and a recent 4-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers. With only eight points from their first 11 games, they currently languish in the bottom three of the Championship.
QPR’s struggles are evident on both ends of the pitch, having conceded 22 goals, surpassed by only three other teams, and scoring just eight times, making them the second-lowest scorers in the league. Given limited financial resources, QPR was forced to be resourceful during the summer transfer window. However, the importance of the January transfer window cannot be understated.
1 . Steven Bala
While much attention is directed towards potential new signings, there is also a focus on possible departures. QPR’s thin squad may compel them to hold onto promising young talents, but there are several players who could benefit from loan moves. Here, we highlight three players who may be loaned out in January.
Steven Bala, a 19-year-old forward, has made sporadic appearances in QPR’s first-team squad this season, featuring in both Carabao Cup and Championship matches. However, he has not been included in the matchday squad since August and currently sits low in the pecking order at Loftus Road. As a result, he appears to be a prime candidate for a loan move during the upcoming transfer window. Bala’s journey began in non-league football with Barnet before his move to QPR in the summer of 2021. A regular run of minutes in the National League in January could be the best development path for Bala.
2 . Rafferty Pedder
Rafferty Pedder, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder, is currently on loan at non-league side Oxford City, with the loan due to expire after a month in the National League. Ainsworth, the QPR manager, has included Pedder in matchday squads this season and expressed confidence in the young player. Nonetheless, given the competition for playmaking positions at Loftus Road, a loan spell seems likely to provide Pedder with the opportunity to impress. Assuming his loan spell with Oxford City is not extended, a further loan move in January is a possibility.
3 . Charlie Kelman
For Charlie Kelman, the 21-year-old striker, the season has been frustrating. While there were rumors of a potential return to Leyton Orient before the summer transfer window closed, Ainsworth dispelled these speculations and indicated Kelman could still have a role at QPR. However, Kelman’s playing time has been limited, with just 62 minutes of football this season, and he has fallen behind other forwards in the pecking order. With his contract expiring in the summer, QPR might contemplate a permanent transfer in the winter window, but a loan move could also be considered.
Leave a Reply