Hasselbaink: I want Caulker to stay at QPR

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says he is desperate for Steven Caulker to stay at QPR.

Defender Caulker, an £8m signing from Cardiff in 2014, was loaned out by Rangers following their relegation from the Premier League last year.

He spent the first half of the season at Southampton before securing a move to Liverpool, where he did not start a league match.

Caulker, 24, recently returned to QPR for pre-season training and has impressed manager Hasselbaink, who says he wants to keep him.

“Steven Caulker has come back absolutely magnificent,” Hasselbaink declared.

“That’s not a player I’d want to let go and not a player I see going. He’s going to stay with us.

“I do not want to let him go. He can help us achieve what we want to achieve. He’s a part of my plans. If it’s up to me, I don’t let him go.

“How Steven Caulker has come back and has trained in the last two weeks, I’d prefer to keep him.”

‘Can’t sustain’

However, Rangers are looking to offload their highest-earning players ahead of the new Championship campaign and will listen to offers for the likes of Caulker.

Crystal Palace have expressed an interest and a potential deal for the former Tottenham centre-back has been discussed. 

Meanwhile, a deal has been agreed for Leroy Fer to join Swansea on a permanent basis following his loan spell at the Welsh club last season.

But hopes of offloading Sandro were dashed when he recently failed a medical at Sporting Lisbon.

And West Brom, who had a bid for Matt Phillips rejected last summer, have made enquiries about the R’s winger in recent weeks but are yet to make an offer. 

“We can’t sustain those kind of wages. Maybe we could for one, but not for four or five,” Hasselbaink admitted.