Queens Park Rangers are attempting to find a new club for forward Žan Celar, with the 26-year-old expected to return from his loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf after a goalless spell in Germany.
QPR sent Žan Celar to Fortuna Düsseldorf in the summer on a loan including an option to buy, hoping regular football in Bundesliga 2 would help reignite the form he showed in Switzerland. Instead, the striker has struggled to make an impact, failing to score in his first 7 appearances and spending 4 of those matches on the bench.
With Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell arriving in the same window, Celar has slipped further down the attacking order at Loftus Road.
🇸🇮 Ž𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗡 🇸🇮
Our new Slovenian striker 💥
Welcome to W12, Žan Celar! ⚡️
— QPR FC (@QPR) July 19, 2024
QPR Offering Celar To Overseas Clubs
QPR are now actively offering Celar to clubs in Turkey as they look to secure a January move. There is interest in that market, although the player himself prefers a return to Eastern Europe. Before his switch to Germany, he had attracted attention from Pogon Szczecin in Poland and Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, and QPR are expected to revisit those options as they try to resolve his future.
Celar’s loan has not progressed as hoped. With limited starts and no goals, the likelihood of Fortuna Düsseldorf activating the option to buy has faded. QPR staff expect the forward to return to London ahead of the winter window unless a deal is reached quickly, prompting the push to line up suitors early.
Zan Celar that is stunning😍😍 pic.twitter.com/2tgXdnBRvW
— UpTheRs (@UpTheRs) November 27, 2024
Striker Still Searching For Form Seen In Switzerland
Celar produced strong numbers in the Swiss Super League, scoring 40 league goals in 95 appearances for Lugano, form which earned him a Championship move in 2024. His first season in England delivered only 2 goals in 21 matches. He required 19 appearances to score his first, having missed a penalty against Stoke City the game before, then netting a brace away at Cardiff City.
Internationally, Celar made his debut for Slovenia in 2021 and has accumulated 17 caps, although he is still awaiting his first goal for his country. With QPR reshaping their forward options and planning for the second half of the season, they hope to secure an exit that suits both club and player as Celar is now viewed as surplus to requirements.
QPR will continue discussions with several overseas clubs as they work to arrange a move in the upcoming window.
