With new manager Steve McClaren warning Queens Park Rangers fans of a quiet summer as he focused on quality not quantity as the club continue to consider financial issues as we cut our cloth – could our new gaffer summon the arrival of two players for the price of one this summer?
McClaren’s First Game Confirmed As He Gives Quality Not Quantity Speech On Transfers
Remember way back when Aston Villa and Tim Sherwood were interested in Socceroo Massimo Luongo. Well, he came to QPR and Sherwood parted company with the club (for different reasons obviously). They were again linked with an interest in the player back in the January window, but with money tight at the former Premier League ever-presents, nothing ever came of those reports.
Now, Luongo is away with Australia and the expectation is that his stock will continue to rise further at the Russian World Cup and it can be presumed that Bruce will maintain an interest in Luongo as he looks to subtly reshape last season’s Play-Off losers for a second bite at the cherry despite reported additional financial concerns.
With Luongo touted as a potential replacement for Henri Lansbury who hasn’t found his feet following his switch from Nottingham Forest, whilst Villa don’t appear to have much wriggle room they do still have one further parachute payment.
Luongo’s strengths are clear, but equally, Lansbury hasn’t turned into a bad player overnight and despite a lack of game time and confidence at Villa he’s continued to show he can create and find the net, which was what he made his name on at the City Ground.
One player’s stock grows, another slips so is there a favourable swap plus some cash deal to be done?
If there is, given speculation linking us with Preston North End’s Paul Huntington – Source – and the suggestion of a £1million fee, could we repurpose the Luongo cash element to take care of his transfer and gain two slightly more experienced players and their greater leadership experience to further help the younger core it’s believed we will contine to lead with next season.
It would be a way of possibly improving two departments on the pitch in a manner that’s not cost negative, but could even be cost positive for us depending on how well Australia do over the next few weeks.
