One of QPR’s targets could be set for a move this January after Exeter City manager Matt Taylor admitted that he is very likely to play at a higher level.
22-year-old Randell Williams has been catching the eye of clubs much higher up the pyramid after a selection of good performances this season, and his goal on the weekend to draw put his side level has only furthered speculation with a move away from the club.
The former Crystal Palace youngster – who plays at right midfield – has undoubtedly been one of their better players so far. According to WhoScored’s algorithm, he has been averaging 7/10, scoring twice as well as recording a huge nine assists, far more than anyone else in his squad.
After he had another great game on the weekend, the manager deemed it was appropriate to discuss both his talent and his future with the club. While he didn’t suggest whether or not he would stay in January, he did concede that he is destined for greater things than League Two.
He said to Devon Live: “Randell Williams is a real talent. I’ll have to whisper it and I’m not sure it’s a secret, but he’s a fantastic player.
“Everyone is ambitious and I’m sure his ambition is with us at the moment, but I’m sure he’ll play at a higher standard and we’re not denying that. We don’t want it to happen in the middle of the season as losing players in January is always hard. We saw that with Jayden Stockley last year and it’s such a difficult time to replace them.
“Randell will go to a higher level and we know that, but for the time we have him, we’ve got to keep working with him. He isn’t the finished article yet, and we still want more in terms of that end product, but if he starts adding goals then he is going to be a hell of a player.”
Chat has cooled a fair bit since late September when TEAMtalk suggested that they were thinking about a move.
The report stated that Cardiff, Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield had all also been interested in the player in the South West, though nothing concrete has happened thus far.
In what area do QPR need the most investment?
GK
DEF
MID
FWD
Looking at Williams’ statistics, it doesn’t come as a big surprise that teams of a higher league are knocking at his door. Still just 22, his 1.6 dribbles per game, 1.7 key passes per game and 1.7 shots per game and 1.9 crosses per game are all stats that show he is getting in all the right positions as a right-winger and is a threat both with his shot and with his crossing.
With Warburton switching formations quite regularly – from a 3-5-2, to a 4-4-1-1 and to a 4-4-2 diamond just in the past three weeks – the signing of Williams could help bolster his squad with some more attacking talent who can case a problem coming on from the bench.
