QPR close to signing midfielder who scored v Chelsea last season | OneFootball

The R's are looking to address their midfield issue, but this player may be one for the future.

18-year-old midfielder Isak Alemayehu has travelled to London to undergo a medical with Queens Park Rangers ahead of his move to the Championship side.

Many of the news headlines in the latter stages of this summer transfer window have mainly surrounded one Swede with the name Isak. All the while, it seems like another player from the same country with the same name, except it's his first name, is going to make a move before the drama-surrounded Newcastle United forward.

QPR's midfield issues were on full display in their 7-1 defeat to Coventry City last weekend, a real embarrassment for Julien Stephan in his early days as the club's boss.

The Hoops have identified Alemayehu as a player that they would like to bring in, seen an opportunity to sign him and are already very advanced in their move for the teenager.

QPR closing in on Isak Alemayehu deal

According to Swedish outlet Expressen, Alemayehu is already in the capital to go through the necessary medical tests to become a new member of the R's. After that, few details will be left to sort out before the Djurgarden player can officially sign his new deal.

The centre-mid gained some slight infamy last season when he scored Djurgaden's only goal across their two meetings with Chelsea in the Europa Conference League semi-final.

The club's director of sport, Bosse Andersson, stated on Friday that the 18-year-old, who has come through their academy, had left to go and do a medical with his new club, which, at the time, was not specified. QPR will pay a transfer fee to sign Alemayehu, who was just months away from becoming a free agent at the end of 2025.

"I can confirm that Isak has permission to travel and meet with a new club to undergo a medical and sign his personal agreement," said Andersson, via Expressen. "The clubs agree on a transfer."

QPR's move for Isak Alemayehu is one made with the future in mind

There are certainly signs in this move that QPR see Alemayehu as a player for the future. Firstly, his age doesn't necessarily suggest that he'll be able to adapt to first-team football in the Championship very quickly, as he has only had a more limited amount of it in the Swedish first division.

This season, he has started four of the 10 Allsevnskan matches that he has played. He will be up to speed in terms of fitness very quickly, if not straight away, but that doesn't mean that the Loftus Road faithful should expect this kid to come into their side and fix Stephan's problems in the middle of the park immediately.