Queens Park Rangers have had a disappointing season so far, currently finding themselves sat in 22nd in the Championship, however, having picked up seven points from their last three matches, the future is looking less bleak.
QPR fans will now be hoping that the second half of the season is where their side truly clicks, as they bid to remain in England’s second division. Regardless of the league, the club will be in, 11 players have expiring contracts at the end of this season, according to Transfermarkt. This is the list.
Sam Field
Field arrived at Loftus Road in the January window of the 2020-21 season, initially on loan before joining on a permanent deal that summer. That deal was his first permanent move away from West Bromwich Albion, after playing 45 matches during his time at the Hawthorns.
Playing in a defensive midfield position, the 25-year-old has accumulated over 2,400 minutes this season, grabbing a single assist. His ability to break up opposition attacks has set him apart, however, his ten yellow cards in the league will mean some onlookers may begin to question his discipline. He has undoubtedly been a key player for the London club, but divisional rivals will be keeping a close eye on any decision made ahead of a potential contract expiration.
Jimmy Dunne
Dunne began his footballing journey in the Manchester United academy, before moving across to Turf Moor to join Burnley at the age of 18. He struggled to break into the first team during his five-year spell there making only seven appearances for the first team and instead was sent out on loan five different times. His move to QPR in the summer of 2021 following the expiration of his Burnley contract saw him get the most football he had seen at any point during his career.
The central defender has now hit over 100 appearances for the hoops. He has only managed to turn out in those famous colours 16 times this season, however, a shoulder injury has been the key factor in prohibiting any more playing time. What lies ahead for the Irishman after the summer is seemingly yet to be decided, however, it is reported that the club have a one-year contract extension clause, meaning it could be solely their decision as to whether or not the 26-year-old stays.
Chris Willock
Former Arsenal and Benfica man Willock has been a key part of the side at Loftus Road since his arrival in October 2020. His versatility as well as his technical ability on the ball has set him apart from his competition and he continues to earn plaudits for his performances. The former England youth international has appeared 128 times for Rangers, accumulating an impressive 39 goal contributions.
Although his game time this season may not have reached the same lofty heights as previously, the attacker has still managed to play over 1,200 league minutes, scoring three goals and grabbing a further two assists. Once again, the future of the 26-year-old’s time at Loftus Road seems to be in doubt, however, QPR Director of Football Les Ferdinand confirmed in a fans forum in October last year that the club were working on securing a new contract for Willock, as well as confirming that there was a contract extension that could also be triggered.
Sinclair Armstrong
Young Irish forward Armstrong has put himself on the radar of many EFL and Republic of Ireland fans this season with some standout performances. Having come through the Shamrock Rovers Academy, the striker joined the Hoops towards the end of 2020. Loans to Torquay United and Aldershot Town followed, allowing the youngster to make development in his career.
Last January, the Dublin-born striker was rumoured to be a transfer target of Lincoln City in League One for a loan deal, however, that did not happen. Instead, Armstrong stayed at Loftus Road in a bid to break into the first team for more regular football. That move has especially gone well this season, as he has appeared 27 times in all competitions, scoring three and assisting the same amount. Once again, it is reported that the club have a one-year contract extension clause, something they may wish to trigger as the 20-year-old’s stock continues to grow.
Osman Kakay
Versatile defender Kakay, who has played primarily as a right-back during his career, is a product of the academy at the club. Since making his professional debut in the 2015/16 season, he has gone on to play over 150 matches for club and country. The Sierra Leone international has played 98 of those games for his current side, with the rest of his club matches coming in development loans earlier in his career.
This season he has seen a good chunk of football, making 23 appearances in the Championship although has failed to register a goal contribution, even though that is not too necessary as a defender. With his contract set to expire this summer, the club will need to decide whether they wish to keep a reliable and versatile homegrown player on the books or allow the 26-year-old to move on.
Elijah Dixon-Bonner
A Liverpool academy graduate, midfielder Dixon-Bonner joined QPR in October 2022 but only registered a single league appearance in his first season. He made his professional debut at Anfield in a fourth-round FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury Town in February 2020, coming off the bench in the dying minutes of the match. However, only a few months later, the Merseyside outfit chose to release him, where he was then picked up by the Hoops.
This season, the youngster has seen more regular game time, as he has made 22 appearances in the second tier and a further two in cup competitions. Most of these appearances have come from the bench but he has made himself a useful and valuable member of the squad. With his contract expiring in the summer, and no indication that the club have an extension clause that could be triggered, what the 23-year-old’s future holds is yet to be seen.
Asmir Begovic
Veteran goalkeeper Begovic was brought in over the summer to replace a departing Seny Dieng, who joined league rivals Middlesborough in their bid to reach the playoffs on a second consecutive occasion. The one-time Premier League winner has played for a whole host of different sides in England and abroad, with his most memorable spells coming at Stoke City and Chelsea. Making 392 club appearances with a further 63 for his national team, the Bosnian has become a household name.
This season, the 36-year-old has continued to impress starting 30 league matches between the goalposts and keeping eight clean sheets in those matches. with his contract set to expire this summer, clubs will be keeping a close eye on any decision the veteran chooses to make, with the prospect of retirement likely to be one the former AC Milan man considers more and more each summer.
Jordan Archer
Archer, the second goalkeeper on this list, has spent most of this season sat on the bench, playing backup to Begovic. a role which he has played at Loftus Road for the previous two seasons. The former Scotland International was an academy graduate of Tottenham Hotspur before he joined Millwall on a permanent deal in the 14/15 season. He played most of his football for the Lions, amassing 166 games, whilst only conceding 182.
His spell at QPR has of course not been the best for the 30-year-old in terms of matches played, however, he has stepped up whenever required. With their starting goalkeeper also out of contract at the end of this season, the hierarchy at the club will need to decide whether they wish to have a complete overhaul of the goalkeeping department.
Albert Adomah
Right-sided forward Adomah emerged at then League Two side Barnet in the 2007/08 season, making an immediate impact with eight goal contributions in the league. Over the following two seasons, he would go on to make another 90 league appearances with a further 14 goals and 14 assists, which earned him a move up the divisions to Bristol City. During his career, the former Ghana international has hit a century of matches for five separate teams, one of those being QPR.
Arriving at Loftus Road in the summer window of the 2020/21 season, he became an immediate part of the squad and hit the ground running. This season, however, his playing time has dwindled, only playing 315 minutes of Championship football. At the age of 36, it is hardly a surprise to see his importance to the first team become less significant, however, he has continued to prove himself as a useful squad option. It will remain to be seen how the club wish to proceed in the summer.
Aaron Drewe
Young defender Drewe is another prospect to come out of the Rangers academy, however, since his club debut in the 2021/22 season, he has only played 13 matches for the side, with only two of those coming this season. loan spells at Oxford City and Weymouth, playing in the National League South and the National League respectively, was where he got the majority of his football.
Therefore, there is an argument some may make that the 22-year-old level is not quite Championship yet after he has failed to properly assert himself a place in the first-team squad. QPR may wish to keep hold of one of their own in a bid to develop him into the player they need, however, that would likely mean more time out on loan so he can get the playing time his development truly needs.
Joe Walsh
The third and final goalkeeper on the list, and indeed the final player on the list overall, is youngster Joe Walsh. The shot-stopper began his career at Gillingham, coming through their academy before making the switch to Loftus Road in January of 2021. Several loans later, he made his debut for QPR in their first-round Carabao Cup loss to Norwich City this season.
In December, the 21-year-old joined Accrington Stanley on loan for a month, making nine appearances in all competitions, including helping his side secure a 1-0 home victory against Lincoln in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Now having returned to QPR, with two goalkeepers ahead of him, Walsh will likely find game time hard to come by, leaving a decision to be made in the summer about his future at the London club.
Writer’s View
The 11 players discussed above are all at varying stages of their careers. Some are youngsters who have failed to break into the first team on a regular enough basis, therefore making it likely they will be released come the summer. Some, are key assets they will wish to tie down for the future, such as Willock or Armstrong. Whilst some can be considered solid squad players during their time at the club, but may need to move on to get the playing time they want whilst QPR look to bring in fresh blood.
Altogether, expect no more than five of these players to still be at the club next season. A total overhaul of the goalkeeping department looks unlikely so it would point to one of those three getting an extension. Furthermore, Ferdinand’s comments on Willock point to the club wanting to tie the attacker down past just this season, whilst it would seem foolish to let Sinclair Armstrong go on a free. Ultimately, however, expect to see some incomings in the next window as Rangers aim to replace some of their departing squad options.
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