QPR pipped to Brighton transfer, Chelsea man also sounded out

QPR pipped to Brighton transfer, Chelsea man also sounded out

Additionally, inquiries were made for Sheffield United’s Femi Seriki and Alfie Gilchrist, the latter of whom is on loan from Chelsea. However, Marti Cifuentes did not require either defender because of the in-demand Jimmy Dunne staying at Loftus Road.

With Chelsea’s versatile left-footer Harvey Vale joining, but not being ready to play until the 2025–26 season, and development squad additions in the form of Brazilian left-back Esquerdinha and non-league teenager Archie O’Brien, the Hoops’ business was concluded with an eye toward the future.

After signing Tottenham winger Yang Min-hyeok and Southampton defender Ronnie Edwards on loan deals in January, R’s manager Cifuentes was unable to add to his current first-team roster on deadline day.

However, a report from West London Sport has revealed that QPR did consider signing another defender, making an attempt for Ruairi McConville, a young player from Brighton.

The 19-year-old, who only made one first-team appearance for the Seagulls but has received two senior Northern Ireland caps, was wanted at Loftus Road. However, because his contract was about to expire, the R’s were unwilling to make an immediate move and were content to wait until the summer to sign him for a lower salary package.

However, Norwich was prepared to make a quick deal and quickly pounced on the teenager. According to talkSPORT writer Alex Crook, the Canaries paid £1 million in the first place to bring the defender to Carrow Road, with add-ons potentially bringing the total price to £2.75 million.

In the closing hours of the transfer window, Graeme Bailey reported that Sheffield United right-back Femi Seriki was being considered by QPR, thus McConville wasn’t the only defender the team was interested in signing.

Jimmy Dunne, a defensive mainstay, has established himself at right-back for the R’s this season, but the Blades’ bids for him were rejected in the last week of the transfer window, so it was a possibly ongoing story.

According to the report from WLS, who is currently on a season-long loan at Bramall Lane, QPR’s hierarchy also discussed with Chelsea the possibility of loaning in Alfie Gilchrist while they were completing a deal for Harvey Vale, given the possibility that United would meet the club’s reported £3 million valuation for Dunne.

Since Gilchrist’s chances of playing regularly are now uncertain due to Harry Clarke’s earlier arrival from Ipswich Town at United, QPR expressed interest. However, as the transfer window closed on Monday night, Dunne was still a Hoops player, thus neither Gilchrist nor Seriki needed to be signed.

Read more news on https://sportupdates.co.uk/