Toni Leistner has made it clear that he has no intention of returning to Queens Park Rangers, even if current club FC Koln don’t sign him permanently.
The centre-back made the loan switch from the R’s to the Bundesliga outfit back in January and he had played four successive games in the top-flight before the enforced break. Whilst that deal included an option to buy, the Coronavirus crisis means that sorting out transfers is not a priority for The Billy Goats.
Even though Leistner recognised that, he made it clear when speaking to German media outlet Bild that he wants to stay in his home country and not return to QPR.
“The fact is that I will not return to [Queens Park] Rangers. I want to continue playing in the Bundesliga, preferably in Köln. As with many other players, there have never been any discussions with the FC Köln. Due to the Corona crisis, this is currently not a priority. And I understand that.”
Was it a mistake to let Toni Leistner leave in January?
Yes
No
Current boss Mark Warburton sanctioned the departure of the 29-year-old in the winter window and it was something of a surprise given that Leistner had featured in 22 games up to that point. However, he had lost his place in the XI immediately before his exit and the R’s chief explained that he couldn’t give the player the assurances he wanted when it came to playing regularly.
Providing a permanent move does come off in the next window, it means Leistner will have left the R’s after just 18 months in the capital, during which time he played in 65 league games after signing on a free transfer from Union Berlin in 2018. He is currently back training with FC Koln as the Bundesliga clubs wait to see when the season can resume, with Markus Gisdol’s side currently 10th in the table.
