Ferdinand explains QPR’s Morrison pursuit

Les Ferdinand has admitted that QPR believed they would be able to sign Ravel Morrison ahead of the new season.

And the Rangers director of football, who has spoken about improving the club’s image and culture, has explained why he would have brought the wayward 22-year-old back to Loftus Road.

Rangers were informed that Morrison, who agreed a move to Lazio in February, was unhappy in Italy and keen to return to England.

At one stage earlier this month a deal to bring Morrison to west London appeared to be close.

“That was the indication we had – that he was unhappy, unsettled and didn’t want to actually start [the season] there,” Ferdinand explained.

“But since then he has been training with them. We’ll just see where that goes.”

Ferdinand was hoping to bring Morrison to Rangers this summer
Ferdinand was hoping to bring Morrison to Rangers this summer

Rangers are continuing to monitor developments after deciding, despite some misgivings about Morrison, that they would sign him if the chance arose.

He impressed during a spell on loan at QPR in 2014 but his temperament has been an issue – he moved to Lazio after being shown the door by West Ham and was previously booted out of Manchester United.

But Ferdinand believes Morrison would still have been worth signing.

“We’re trying to change the mood here and I feel that with the people we’ve brought in and the existing people here there’s a really good feeling in the camp,” he said.

“Anyone coming in to this right now would feel that and we wouldn’t be able to have anyone who came in and disrupted it.

“I couldn’t sit here and say he definitely wouldn’t have caused a problem, but we were certainly hoping he’s learnt some lessons.

“He’s still only 22 so is still young and is developing mentally as well as with his football education.

“You’d just be hoping you can get hold of him and change his mindset.”

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