Transfer gossip: QPR tipped to sign Huntington

QPR are set to launch a bid for Preston defender Paul Huntington, according to The Sun.

Rangers boss Steve McClaren is said to be planning to offer £1m for the 30-year-old centre-back.

The Sun reported that Huntington has a year remaining on his contract at Deepdale and declared “McClaren is poised to land him on a cut-price deal.”

Huntington, who previously had spells at Newcastle and Leeds, missed just two league games for Preston last season and The Sun reported that McClaren wants him for his experience.

Is Huntington heading to Loftus Road?

Signing an experienced centre-back with leadership qualities is a priority for QPR, particularly because of the departure of Nedum Onuoha, and Huntington is among many players they have enquired about.

Keen to use the Bosman ruling to their advantage, Rangers have particularly targeted players who have a year or less remaining on their contract and have indicated that they will not sign a new deal – an approach which led to the signings of Josh Scowen and Luke Freeman, for example.

Even though the club has been reducing its budget, QPR are still in a position to offer higher wages than some Championship clubs.

However, Huntington’s Preston contract includes an option to extend it by a further 12 months, meaning he is effectively under contract for two more years.

With that being the case, Preston are seemingly in a position to expect significantly more than £1m for him.

So as things stand, he is out of QPR’s price range.

The club’s search for a centre-back continues.

Two of their top targets were at Brighton, but the out-of-contract Uwe Hünemeier opted to return to his native Germany, while Glasgow Rangers recently bought Connor Goldson from the Seagulls, ending the hopes of the several Championship clubs that wanted him on loan.