QPR backed to beat Derby County to "exciting" transfer for 17-goal star | OneFootball

FLW’s QPR fan pundit has commented on the R’s interest in French striker Timothe Nkada.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Queens Park Rangers are aiming to improve on a mediocre 2024-25 campaign which saw the club finish 15th.

The R’s are under new management led by Frenchman Julien Stephan, who will be looking to implement his ideas and playing style to the current playing squad.

QPR will be working tirelessly to improve the squad too and allow Stephan to stamp his authority on the team.

So far this summer, QPR have currently recruited four new faces, with Karamoko Dembele, Amadou Salif Mbengue, Kwame Poku and Kealey Adamson all linking up in West London, while as many as 11 first-team figures departed the club at the end of last season, as the club aims to find the right balance.

As per The Sun, QPR have been linked with making a fifth signing, with the R’s expected to rival Blackburn Rovers and Derby County for striker Timothe Nkada, who currently plays his football in Ligue 2 with Rodez.

Nkada has recently come off the back of an impressive 17-goal-scoring season in the French second-tier, with the 26-year-old believed to be available for £2.2 million.

Seemingly on an upwards trajectory in his career, FLW’s QPR fan pundit has commented on Nkada being touted for a move to Loftus Road.

Timothe Nkada could be the "perfect focal point" at QPR

Speaking to Football League World, QPR fan pundit Louis Moir has revealed his excitement about the links to Timothe Nkada, believing the frontman can bring qualities that the R’s squad have missed for a long period of time.

Louis said: “I think this sort of signing is something to fully expect due to us appointing a French manager.

“Looking into the second league in France and obviously, a lot of (Championship) clubs have done that over the years and picked out a lot of hidden gems in that country, even more so in the second division in France.

“Some may say the quality is nothing compared to the Championship, which is true, but there are players out there, and if you do the right scouting, and you sign the right players, there can be some top players out there.

“This guy (Nkada) has scored quite a handful of goals, and I also think he got quite a few assists, so it shows that he's a striker who can also create opportunities, and that could potentially fit in well to us with players like Chair, Poku, Dembele, Madsen, those sorts of attacking players who you’d expect to have decent numbers this season for us.

“This is the sort of signing I'd be excited by. It’s the sort of signing I hope we make, as for a while now, we've needed options up front and goals. Looking at this guy, he's fairly pacey, got a bit of strength, he's got a physical presence, and again, that's something we've lacked as an option.

“It could be good if we play two up front, which I think Julien Stephan likes to do. He could be the perfect focal point up there, so maybe have him and someone else up front and that could cause Championship defenders a lot of problems, so yeah, very excited by this rumour, I think Julien Stephan worked with him when he was at Rennes as well, so there could be a link there.

“He's at a good age, seems to be in his best years, has a very good goal return, so I’m all for it.

“Personally, I think it’s worth taking a chance on someone like this, and it could be an exciting signing for sure.”

QPR should be in the driving seat for Timothe Nkada signing

QPR should be in the driving seat for the signing of Timothe Nkada given their need for a new forward, as Alfie Lloyd and Charlie Kelman look set to leave West London before the 1st September deadline.

Meanwhile, Derby are the least likely to require another forward, given they have already brought Carlton Morris, Patrick Ageymang and Andi Weimann to Pride Park.

With Rovers, they are amply supplied with forward options in Harry Leonard, Yuki Ohashi, Mahktar Gueye and Augustus Kargbo, so Blackburn may not make a concrete move unless one of their current crop departs.

If the R’s can seal a deal for Nkada, then he would be likely to improve the side and hit the ground running as he knows what to expect from a Julien Stephan system from their time together at Rennes.

Nkada’s versatility is a big plus too, as he is able to play across the entire forward line, although you would think he would want to carry on his form at centre-forward after notching so many league goals in France last term.