Queens Park Rangers are in a five-way battle for out-of-favour striker Jerry Yates, according to a report.
The former Blackpool standout was sent on loan to Derby County this season and was The Rams’ top scorer, with ten goals and four assists across 42 matches as they managed to avoid the drop on the final day.
Championship Clubs Tussle For Yates
Yates’ future at parent club Swansea City looks set to be over, having initially joined the club in 2023 and is expected to leave the South Wales club this summer. A report from Football Insider states that three Championship clubs, alongside two MLS teams, are interested in signing the 28-year-old.
One of those sides is Queens Park Rangers, with the West London club still searching for a new boss whilst Marti Cifuentes remains on gardening leave. St. Mirren boss Stephen Robinson has been linked with the role, but face competition from the relegated Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town for his signature.
The R’s have struggled for goals this season, with just Michael Frey being their top scorer in the league with eight finishes. But they face competition from both Hull City and Blackburn Rovers to sign Yates, whilst it is believed that Derby and John Eustace will not try and pursue a permanent deal for their number 10.
Writers’ View
Jerry Yates seemingly failed to impress at Swansea City last season and Luke Williams opted to send him on loan at Derby County rather than have him in his first team plans. Yates did fairly decent at Pride Park and was a big source of goals for the club but did not light the world on fire. Clubs like Queens Park Rangers are in need of a reliable source of goals and the 28-year-old is exactly that. However, it does feel risky signing players when you don’t know who the new manager is, as any incoming may want a different profile of striker to lead the line.
