Queens Park Rangers players have garnered interest this summer after the club secured safety in the Championship for another season, including fullback Kenneth Paal, according to reports.
Marti Cifuentes pulled off a miracle upon taking the job at Loftus Road after Gareth Ainsworth was relieved of his duties. When the Spaniard took the reins, the West London outfit were six points below safety in England’s second tier but by the end of the campaign, Cifuentes had steered the side to six above the dotted line.
Before his arrival, the QPR squad were deemed by punters to be not good enough to compete in the Championship anymore, yet the former Hammarby boss managed to change the perception of the club. While there has been interest from teams in the Championship in Cifuentes’ services, several players have also piqued the intrigue of rival teams.
Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic looks to be on his way out of the club following interest from Premier League side Newcastle United. Queens Park Rangers have already acquired Gent goalkeeper Paul Nardi on a free transfer and the French goalkeeper will likely be the Bosnian’s permanent replacement between the sticks.
Nevertheless, fullback Paal is also being watched by teams in the Championship. Journalist Darren Witcoop reported earlier today that fellow second-tier outfit Watford are interested in signing the Dutch defender, but have also set their sights on a number of alternatives, including Aston Villa‘s Lino Sousa, who spent the second half of the previous campaign on loan at Plymouth Argyle.
Paal currently has a market value of £2.4 million, as per Transfermarkt, so he certainly won’t come cheap. However, the Suriname international has entered into the final 12 months of his contract with QPR, meaning the club may be open to selling him this summer.
Writer’s View
Paal would be a big loss for Queens Park Rangers should he leave the club before the transfer window closes at the end of August. The Dutchman made 46 appearances in all competitions last season in which he bagged four goals and recorded one assist.
If Cifuentes wants to crack on next season and avoid being dragged into another relegation battle, the head coach needs to keep hold of his best players. Nonetheless, if he wants to add more wiggle room in the transfer kitty, Paal is certainly one of the most sellable assets.
Deputy Head of Writing
