Ilias Chair: QPR future, weekly wage, contract situation | OneFootball

QPR midfielder Ilias Chair's future at the club looks to be secure for at least the rest of the season after the club reportedly rejected a multi-million-pound bid for the talented playmaker.

The Morocco international has been a key player for the West London club once again this season, firing in three goals and adding five assists in what has turned out to be a disastrous campaign so far.

Despite his performances, QPR currently sit third bottom in the league table, with only Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United below them, as they stare perilously at a potential relegation down to the third tier.

Manager Marti Cifuentes will be hoping to keep the midfielder for as long as he possibly can to help him avoid the drop, but his resolve was tested by a big bid this week.

QPR rejected a £4.25 million bid for Ilias Chair from Turkish side

Fabrizio Romano reported that the club rejected a £4.25 million bid for the midfielder from Turkish side Trabzonspor - with the transfer window in Turkey open until the 9th of February.

Trabzonspor are currently fourth in the Turkish Superliga, chasing qualification to the Europa League this term. Their European ambitions look like another world away from the Hoops' current predicament, and could have tempted Chair head towards a move away from the London side.

The bid for the midfielder was a large fee for a club in QPR's position to receive, although the fact that it came outside of the UK January transfer window means they may have felt it was impossible to accept as their only means of signing a replacement would be via the free agent market.

The approach the club appear to be taking is to keep him until the end of the season, hopefully avoid relegation, and then consider a deal in the summer months instead.

When FLW spoke exclusively to Chair in December, he made it clear that his commitment was to the club but did not close the door on a future exit.

His contract expires next year so turning down the bid

While it was a big statement of intent for QPR to reject the multi-million-pound bid for the midfielder, they could soon come to regret the decision due to his current contract situation.

After signing a four-and-a-half-year extension in 2021, Chair has a contract with the R's until the summer of 2025, leaving just over a year before he can leave the club on a free transfer.

While many would have thought QPR could have pushed a lot higher up in the table this season, their current battle against relegation could make the Moroccan think twice about signing a new contract before the end of next season.

With interest from Leicester City last summer adding to the bid from Turkey, Chair may have quite a few suitors when his contract comes to an end and even in the summer as suitors look for a cut-price deal.

His expiring deal puts the R's in a poor negotiating position ahead of the summer and could mean they're forced to consider offers that come in below what they feel he is worth.

Chair is vastly underpaid compared to his role in the team

According to Capology, Chair has an estimated wage of just under £7,000 per week. He is likely still on the wages from his contract extension he signed in 2021 when he was a much less crucial part of the side.

This is completely disproportional to his role in the squad. Chair has been one of the first names on the team sheet all year, starting 27 matches in the Championship.

He was also part of the Morocco side that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, raising his profile even higher in the game as a consequence.

This will likely be a big factor in his decision to stay at the club or leave it in the next year or two. With Asmir Begovic reportedly pocketing over £30,000 per week at Loftus Road, Chair will likely want a significant pay rise if he is to stay at the club, but could get even more if he leaves in the next window or on a free transfer next summer.