QPR set to beat Swansea City and Leicester City to signing of Richard Kone | OneFootball

The Hoops are set to secure the signing of last season's League One Player of the Year

Queens Park Rangers are set to bolster their frontline with the addition of highly sought-after Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone.

Kone enjoyed a breakthrough year in his first full season as a professional footballer, netting 18 goals in League One for Wycombe and winning the division's Player of the Year award at the EFL Awards.

Interest has been rife among Championship clubs in the exciting Ivorian. Swansea City and Leicester City were both reported to be interested, whilst Preston North End had a £3 million bid knocked back last month.

However, it looks like QPR will be the side to secure his services ahead of his Championship rivals, as Pete O'Rourke has revealed that a fee has been agreed for the 22-year-old.

QPR agree a deal for Richard Kone

Kone image credit - Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

According to Pete O'Rourke on X, QPR have agreed a fee with Wycombe for Richard Kone.

The writing looked to be on the wall for the 22-year-old at Adams Park to begin this season, as he wasn't named in the matchday squad against Bradford City and then came on as a substitute against Stockport County as the Chairboys slumped to two defeats to begin the new League One campaign.

With less than a year left on his contract, Wycombe were still expected to hold out for £5 million for his services. However, with Ron Walker revealing last week that the League One outfit lowered their asking price for the striker to £3 million + add-ons, it is unclear as to how much the Hoops have swooped in to take the striker away from the likes of Swansea and Leicester.

QPR did free up some funds after selling Charlie Kelman to Charlton Athletic this summer for a reported £3.5 million, but have spent just over £1 million on the arrival of another exciting striker from the third tier in Rumarn Burrell, who arrived from Burton Albion last month.

Nevertheless, Kone will arrive to be the new focal point up front, as the Rs look to build a squad capable of competing in the top half under new manager Julien Stephan.

Kone image credit - Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

One of the main questions throughout this transfer window surrounded which Championship club Kone would find himself at this season. It's taken until the beginning of the season to find out the answer, but all eyes will be on QPR now to see how the Ivorian performs.

It's a sign of their intent to get out of the mid-table Championship pack. QPR have finished in the division's top 10 just once since they were relegated back to the second tier at the end of the 2014/15 campaign.

The fact that they were able to fend off interest from several rival sides will excite R's fans, and their excitement will also be reflected in their new signing, who has all the potential to be a regular atop the second-tier scoring charts in the coming years.

Barring any late complications, the 22-year-old will become the fourth player who excelled in League One last season to arrive at Loftus Road this summer, following Burrell, Amadou Mbengue and Kwame Poku, the latter of whom joined Kone in the frontline of the League One Team of the Season last term.