QPR player's Loftus Road journey appears to be coming to a natural end this summer | OneFootball

Lucas Andersen appears to be running out of time at QPR

It's hard to escape the feeling that Lucas Andersen's QPR career appears to be winding down to a natural conclusion, with the Danish playmaker set to see his contract expire in the summer after struggling for both form and fitness for much of the current campaign.

Despite suffering three defeats from their last five matches, the overwhelming school of thought is that QPR are a club very much on an upwards trajectory under Marti Cifuentes this season.

The R's struggled in the opening stages of the campaign after batting off the threat of relegation last time out, but are now seeing their unwavering faith in the Spaniard rewarded.

Although a play-off finish may prove a step too far for QPR - who are in 13th but just four points shy of sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion, it must be said - there is little denying the progress which has been made this term, boding well for 2025/26 and beyond.

However, Andersen has played a limited role in their ascension up the league table in recent months, as he seemingly edges ever closer to an exit from Loftus Road come the end of the season.

Lucas Andersen's 24/25 season for QPR

Andersen has fallen some way short of replicating the dazzling form which saw him almost immediately endear himself to the R's faithful after arriving from Danish top-flight outfit AaB Aalborg mid-way through the previous campaign.

The 30-year-old's arrival was hotly-anticipated given his one-time status as a serious prospect with Dutch giants Ajax and he showed what all the hype was really about by setting up four goals and scoring one of his own in the stunning 4-0 rout of Leeds United in April.

And when Andersen opened the scoring after just 16 minutes in QPR's Championship curtain-raiser, an eventual 3-1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion, excitement was rife about what he could go on to achieve in his first full term with the club.

However, he has failed to add to his account ever since in either the goals or assists department. Regular playing time and form have both been difficult to come by for Andersen, who has also not featured since the end of December after picking up an injury in the draw at Norwich City but is anticipated to return to action before long.

At the time of writing, the Dane's record reads just one goal and no assists from 22 league appearances. Mind you, just nine of those have been starts, with his accumulative Championship action coming to 830 minutes - or just 37 minutes per game.

He will be looking to pick up those numbers once he returns to full fitness, but whether ample opportunity to do so will be awarded either in what remains of the present season or the next remains something of a mystery at this moment in time.

Lucas Andersen's QPR tenure may be coming to an end

It's important to note Andersen is approaching the end of the one-and-a-half year deal he penned to head to West London in February 2024. As of now, his chances of earning a new contract are perhaps not appearing too promising.

Earlier this month, the former Ajax and Grasshopper midfielder revealed his desire to extend his stay at QPR, although he said he has not yet held talks with the club about a new contract. With just 13 games left to run of 24/25, that ought to be a concern.

There is also considerable competition for places in the final third, which may further decrease Andersen's odds of staying with the R's. Andersen is comfortable playing in either attacking midfield or wide-left, but faces stiff competition in both areas.

Karamoko Dembele has missed the majority of the campaign through injury but made a huge impression in his opening 10 appearances, meaning the 21-year-old is sure to be in Cifuentes' starting side once he comes back - be it out wide or centrally. The emergence of 18-year-old midfielder Kieran Morgan could also be a concern for Andersen, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur prospect having started on 15 occasions this term.

Then you've got Harvey Vale, who joined from Chelsea in the most recent window and will not play until next season when he returns from injury.

Vale, though, is capable of operating anywhere down the left-hand side or even in central or attacking midfield, and his acquisition is a wholly-exciting one which QPR will be looking to make the most of as soon as he's ready to go.

Talismanic playmaker Ilias Chair isn't going anywhere just yet either. However, the age profiles of the aforementioned trio coupled with QPR's clear strategy to continually reduce the average age of the squad while being competitive towards the top-end of the table means it's hard to see a long-term future for Andersen, who will celebrate his 31st birthday in September and has been unable to offer compelling reason for renewal this time out.