QPR to tweak transfer policy in pursuit of striker

QPR are looking to bring in an experienced striker in January in a slight departure from previous transfer policy.

Rangers have mostly targeted players aged 24 or under during recent transfer windows before considering other options, but believe pace and knowhow up front is essential as they look to climb away from the wrong end of the Championship.

Five consecutive defeats have them 19th in the table and they plan to bring in at least one forward next month.

Manager Ian Holloway generally approves of the club’s recent transfer policy but wants an exception to be made in the pursuit of a striker.

Enquiries have been made about a number of players as QPR assess their options.

The Rangers management are hoping to in some way replicate the impact Glenn Murray has had at Brighton this season.

Striker Murray, 33, was signed on loan in the summer and has scored 14 goals for the title-chasing Seagulls, underlining the importance of experience up front.

What will not change is QPR’s preference for players with experience of English football, preferably the Championship.

Apart from summer signing Yeni Ngbakoto and fellow Frenchman Sehrou Guirassy, who joined Cologne, Rangers’ original transfer targets this year were English-based.

With those players generally hard to acquire, other options were subsequently looked at in an effort to add to the squad.

QPR are also hopeful of finally offloading Sandro, whose contract expires in the summer.

Steven Caulker is currently unavailable so the chances of him being sold, at least in the first part of January, look slim.

Holloway is keen to have more options at right-back and Rangers are therefore planning to recall Darnell Furlong.

The 21-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Swindon along with midfielder Michael Doughty, who is also set to be recalled.