Forest announce signing of QPR’s Mackie

Nottingham Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi has announced that his club have signed Jamie Mackie from QPR on a three-year contract.

Having had an initial bid for the forward rejected, Forest moved swiftly after Mackie handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move.

Al Hasawi posted on Twitter that he was “delighted” to complete the deal.

West London Sport revealed on Thursday that Mackie was planning to formally request a move, having been unhappy at Loftus Road for several months.

Rangers later confirmed that they had received and accepted a transfer request.

Mackie’s first-team prospects under Harry Redknapp were bleak and likely to remain so, with the Rangers boss chasing the likes of Gary Hooper, Andros Townsend and Charlie Austin.

West London Sport recently revealed that Forest were interested in Mackie and that they had subsequently had a bid for him rejected because did it not meet Rangers’ valuation of the 27-year-old.

Mackie, known for his never-say-die attitude, was repeatedly snubbed by Redknapp last season even after Rangers’ relegation was confirmed, despite it being widely accepted that their demise was caused by players on massive wages failing to perform.

Forest manager Billy Davies is also keen on Burnley striker Austin, 24, and Mackie was one of a number of other forwards on his radar.

Mackie played a key role in QPR’s promotion in 2011, scoring nine goals during the first half of the season before suffering a broken leg.

He made a total of 85 appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals and featuring as a striker or on either flank.

Redknapp is making wholesale changes following Rangers’ relegation to the Championship and has made an offer for Austin after missing out on Hooper, who is set to join Norwich from Celtic.

Townsend, who impressed while on loan at QPR from Tottenham last season, is also waiting to see whether a top-flight club come in for him.

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