Leeds United face fresh competition for £3m-rated EFL star

Leeds United look set to face competition in their hunt for Oxford United defender Rob Dickie, with Queens Park Rangers eyeing up a £3m move according to West London Sport.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side are one of a number of Premier League clubs hunting the former Reading youngster, who has grown into the hottest central defender outside the top two divisions. Newcastle, West Brom and Fulham have also tracked his progress, but Championship side QPR are now hoping to get ahead of their rivals and snare the 24-year-old, despite interest from Nottingham Forest too.

The powerful defender started his career with Reading but enjoyed his first senior football during a loan spell with Cheltenham, where he won the National League. He also appeared for Basingstoke and Lincoln City, before he moved to the Kassam Stadium in the winter window of 2018.

Although the former England Under 19 international currently has a year left on his deal with Oxford United but has been heavily linked with a move this summer. He’s already been the subject of speculation this year; Southampton and Burnley were thought to be looking at him also, suggesting 25% of Premier League clubs covet his services.

Dickie, who was handed the captain’s armband at Oxford, has been polishing a reputation as a fearless, ball-playing defender with true leadership potential and whilst a move to a top-flight club might see him loaned out, the Championship and Loftus Road does seem a natural step for him to continue playing regular football.

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Dickie is very much the man of the moment and losing him would be a huge blow to Oxford. However, having sold Tarique Fosu and Shandon Baptiste in January, they’ve proved they have to be a selling club, to a degree.

The U’s missed out on the Championship via the play-offs last season and that leaves Dickie ripe for the picking, but there will be no cut-price move. The salary cap introduction means Oxford are not able to splash the cash they receive on wages, suggesting it would take a bid for the full £3m to prise him away.