The Nation Newspaper

Tag: QPR

  • QPR TO POUNCE ON WOLVES’ IKEME

    QPR TO POUNCE ON WOLVES’ IKEME

    English Championship side, Queens Park Rangers, are looking to sign Nigeria Intrnational goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme from fellow Championship side, Wolverhampton Wanderers amids fear over their goalkeeper Robert Green’s future.

    In 2010 QPR’s decision to sign the goalkeeper was scuppered when he signed a new deal to stay at the Molineux.

    The 29-year-old was called up to the Nigeria squad this week for their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania on September 3, however, he was surprisingly dropped for the Wolves game with Hull last weekend in favour of Arsenal loanee Emiliano Martinez.

    QPR have concerns about the future of Rob Green, who has been discussed by West Ham again this week.

    Ikeme declared his allegiance to Nigeria some years ago and will now challenge Nigeria captain Vincent Enyeama for a place in the side.

    But that didn’t mean he wasn’t unsure of the validity of the phone call that informed him of his first ever Nigeria call-up.

    “When the message and the phone call came I thought someone was winding me up to start with,” he said.

    “I spoke to the coach and it started to make more sense and I realised it was none of my cousins winding me up or anything like that.”

    Ikeme said it was a ‘no-brainer’ to accept the call-up as he has close ties to the country.

  • QPR, Brentford want Omeruo loan

    QPR, Brentford want Omeruo loan

    Relegated Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and English Championship side Brentford are among the clubs that are keen to sign Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo on loan from Chelsea.

    This past season, Omeruo, who is currently with Nigeria for an AFCON 2017 qualifier against Chad, ended another loan spell at English Championship side Middlesbrough.

    AfricanFootball.com has now gathered that QPR, who finished bottom of the English Premier League, and Brentford, who featured in the promotion playoffs in the Championship, are among a slew of clubs who want to have the central defender on loan in the new season.

    Brentford lost home and away to Middlesbrough, where Omeruo featured last season on loan, in the promotion playoffs.

    However, Omeruo looks more likely to rechart his career path by jumping at an offer to join French Ligue 1 side Lille.

    Lille new coach Herve Renard is a long-term admirer of Omeruo and has already swung into action to sign him.

  • QPR targets Aiyegbeni, Defoe

    QPR targets Aiyegbeni, Defoe

    The presence of Yakubu Aiyegbeni in the stands during Queens Park Rangers 1-2 loss to Arsenal on Boxing Day has sparked off rumours of a possible reunion with Harry Redknapp.

    According to the Daily Mirror, the Nigerian striker is one of Redknapp’s transfer targets in the January transfer window.

    Other options include England striker, Jermain Defoe, who is with FC Toronto in the MLS, supersport.com reports.

    But Redknapp has a budget which is inadequate to bring in stellar names as he seeks to steer Rangers away from relegation in the second round of the Barclays Premier League.

    Now the QPR boss has identified the Al Rayyan striker as a target in the January transfer window since he has just six months of his contract left with the Qatari club, according to the English newspaper.

    QPR’s only in-form striker is Charlie Austin who has scored 12 goals in 17 league matches while the duo of Eduardo Vargas and Bobby Zamora have managed two goals in between them.

    Redknapp had worked with Yakubu while Portsmouth when he signed the ex-Super Eagles striker from Israeli club, Maccabi Hafia on loan in January 2003.

    Aiyegbeni’s last appearance in the English top flight was in 2012 with Blackburn Rovers when the club was relegated.

  • Ayew rejects Hull, prefers QPR, Swansea

    Marseille forward Andre Ayew has turned down the chance to join Hull City, but his representatives are continuing talks with Swansea City and QPR.

    Ayew is available to move before the transfer deadline, as Marseille look to trim their squad and ensure he does not leave in 12 months’ time on a free transfer, with a contract which expires in 2015.

    According to French radio station RMC, Ayew has rejected a proposal from Hull and has no intention of going to the KC Stadium.

    However, Ayew could still be on the move to the English Premier League before the window slams shut.

    Indeed, his representatives are still in the process of holding talks with two other Premier League clubs in the shape of QPR and Swansea.

    The pair will now do their best to persuade the Ghana international to leave Marseille.

  • Kilduff happy with QPR friendly run-out

    Kilduff happy with QPR friendly run-out

    Shamrock Rovers striker Ciaran Kilduff played 79 minutes of The Hoops friendly defeat to QPR and after the game he gave his thoughts on the game, the remainder of the season, and his future at Rovers.

    The striker has been in and out of the team in recent weeks and was delighted to play the majority of the game on Saturday afternoon.

    “It was good to get a game under the belt. They’re a top team, they’re quality players, and I thought for the majority of the game we gave a good account of ourselves,” Kilduff told extratime.i

    Despite being chopped and changed from the starting XI The Hoops number 31 has still been able to score nine goals in all competitions this season, and the forward insists that he’s working hard to make scoring a more regular part of the game.

    “I started the season well. I’ve still nine goals in all competitions. I’ll have to get back, and start trying to hit the back of the net again.”

    Kilduff was heavily linked with St Pat’s up until the transfer window shut on Thursday night, but Kilduff insists that his sole focus will be Shamrock Rovers until the end of the season.

    “I’m contracted to Shamrock Rovers, so it’s not for me to worry about right now,” Kilduff exclaimed.

    Saturday’s friendly saw a rare feature, as  Kilduff started on the right side of a front three, and although he’s more comfortable up front, he insists that he’ll play anywhere for his team.

    “I’ve never played there before. Maybe the odd time filling holes, but it wouldn’t be something that I’m used to. I tried my best out there. I’m a centre forward at heart, but it’s good to get the run out out there, and you’ll play anywhere for the team.”

    Despite The Hoops being twelve points off the top this season Kilduff insists that the season is not dead, as himself and his counterparts still have Europe to play for, as well as both domestic cups.

    “We’ve a lot to play for this season. Even if Europe’s only a consolation. We’ve an FAI Cup and we’re in the semi-finals of a league cup, so the seasons not over,” Kilduff concluded.

  • Swansea battle QPR for Omeruo

    Swansea battle QPR for Omeruo

    EPL side Swansea will battle several Championship sides including QPR for Kenneth Omeruo for a loan deal in January.

    The agent of the Nigeria international defender Obinna Emelogu Chukwudi specially informed MTNFootball.com that the latest interest for a loan deal for his player have come from Swansea City and QPR among others.

    “There have been some interests from both the English Premier League and the Championship for Kenneth,” Emelogu disclosed.

    “From the EPL, we have had the likes of Swansea City and Hull City, while in the Championship we have got Queens Park Rangers, Watford and Huddersfield Town. A decision on where the player will go will only be known in January, but Chelsea would prefer he stays in England and that he joins a decent club on loan till the end of the season.”

    The 20-year-old Omeruo, who has been on a season and a half loan at Dutch club Ado Den Haag, has continued to train with the Chelsea main squad and has also featured for the London team’s U21 team and reserves.

  • Roma open talks with QPR’s goalkeeper Júlio César – report

    Queens Park Rangers’ goalkeeper Júlio César has reportedly opened talks with Serie A side Roma.

    The Brazil international, who has played all three games at the Confederations Cup, has been a target for several clubs since QPR’s Premier League relegation was confirmed, including Arsenal and Milan.

    But Roma look to have moved to the front of the queue as they have opened official negotiations with the 33-year-old, according to the Mirror.

    New Roma coach Rudi Garcia is keen to bring the former Inter Milan stopper back to Italy and César is expected to enter in discussions over a move next week.

    Following Brazil’s 4-2 win over Italy on Saturday, César admitted he knows of the interest from the Giallorossi and is “happy” to have attracted their attention, as reported on Football Italia.

    He told Rai Sport: “I do hear news every now and then, so I am happy about that interest. After everything that happened at Inter, my career has changed a great deal.

    “I thank QPR, who were the only club who wanted me. They gave me a great opportunity and I am still in the Seleçao thanks to them.”

  • QPR Remy arrested for ‘raping’ 34-year-old woman

    QPR Remy arrested for ‘raping’ 34-year-old woman

    QPR striker Loic Remy has been arrested on suspicion of rape according to The Metropolitan Police and the France international along with two other men is currently in custody in West London.

    The 26-year-old forward is alleged to have raped a 34-year-old woman in west London on May 6.

    A 23-year-old man and 22-year-old man were also arrested in connection with the incident at an address in Fulham on Wednesday morning.

    The woman said she was raped by three men.

  • Reading, QPR relegated from EPL

    Reading, QPR relegated from EPL

    Reading and Queens Park Rangers have been relegated from the English Premier League after they drew 0-0 on Sunday, Futaa.com reports.

    Both teams needed three points from Sunday’s duel to have a realistic hope of overtaking Aston Villa ( 17th on the log), but neither side managed to create many clear-cut chances in a game that featured little creativity or entertainment value.

    Reading is making an instant return to the second tier, while QPR is leaving the topflight after two seasons.

    Reading’s Hope Akpan, who is eyeing a possible stint in the Green and White jersey of Nigeria, will now be ready for life in the Championships as the club attempts a quick return to the top flight.

     

  • Botched transfer fallout: Osaze sacks agents

    Botched transfer fallout: Osaze sacks agents

    Nigeria striker, Osaze Odemwingie, has sacked his agents, he said on his Twitter account.

    The 31-year-old striker was the centre of attention on transfer deadline day when mixed messages saw him drive to London believing he was due to sign for Queens Park Rangers, MTNFootball.com reports.

    West Bromwich Albion denied a deal had been struck and manager Steve Clarke said just two weeks ago that the Nigerian international should seek new representatives.

    “I have sacked my agents. They are at my gate begging for permission to negotiate a comeback. I told them to seek permission from authorities,” Odemwingie tweeted.

    Odemwingie, who was reportedly fined two weeks’ wages over the transfer deadline saga, traveled with the WBA squad on Monday as they beat Liverpool in an English Premier League fixture, but watched the game from the stands.