QPR transfer latest: Marti Cifuentes on January approach, Tim Iroegbunam reunion, new contracts | OneFootball

Queens Park Rangers continue to fight to retain their Championship status under Marti Cifuentes.

The R’s had originally looked revitalised from the arrival of the Spaniard, but a run of four defeats from their last five league outings has caused serious concern that the West London outfit is staring at the prospect of League One football next season.

The Hoops have dropped to 23rd in the second tier table, with recruitment in the summer transfer window of only free agents failing to have the desired impact.

In order to give themselves the best chance of survival, the January transfer window could be a crucial period to allow Cifuentes to bolster the squad, with key additions needed in multiple areas if they are going to remain competitive this term.

This will also be Cifuentes’s first transfer window as QPR boss, which allows him to stamp his own authority on the playing squad after being appointed in October last year.

Football League World brings the latest updates.

QPR manager Marti Cifuentes has not ruled out a busy month in the January transfer window despite their financial woes.

Rangers were restricted to only signing free agents in the summer under Gareth Ainsworth due to concerns around the Championship’s profit and sustainability rules.

However, the 41-year-old hinted at the need for business to be done, with a number of injury issues to key players hampering their survival chances.

Speaking to London News Online, Cifuentes said: “It definitely will be busy in the sense that we will try our best to be creative, [while] understanding the situation where we are that makes us very limited in the options we can afford.

“We need to be aware as a football team that if we can improve we need to try our best. I am aware about the financial situation and the restrictions so it is not only up to us.

“I am sure that the whole club understands we are in a moment where we need to try our best, whatever the solution or possibilities, to see if we can improve as a football team.”

QPR fell to another defeat at home on New Year’s Day when they were edged out 2-1 by Cardiff City, and the R’s struggled to be effective in front of goal as they were missing their two most creative outlets in Ilias Chair and Chris Willock.

Cifuentes’s men are the joint-lowest scorers in the Championship and registered just three shots on target against the Bluebirds.

The former Hammarby boss admitted it is a challenge coping without the duo.

“It would be a challenge for any Championship team, and we are not an exception.

“When you have players like these two and Jack [Colback] and [Steve] Cook with their experience [also out], you are talking about important players in our squad.

“There are no excuses. When someone is missing, someone else can take the opportunity to do well. Perhaps today not everyone took the opportunity.”

QPR linked with Tim Iroegbunam reunion

QPR are reportedly interested in linking back up with midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, with his current club Aston Villa keen on selling the player during the January transfer window.

The promising 20-year-old spent last term on loan with the R’s, featuring 32 times for the London club as they narrowly avoided relegation to League One.

Journalist Darren Witcoop tweeted last week that the Hoops are keen to take the Birmingham-born man for the remainder of the term, but the Villans are looking to move the youngster away on a permanent basis, so it will be interesting to see how this saga plays out during the course of the month.

QPR development duo Trent Rendall and Micah Anthony sign new contracts

QPR development players Trent Rendall and Micah Anthony have signed new six-month deals with the club.

The pair’s contracts were set to expire on the 31st December but they will now remain with the R’s until the end of the current campaign.

Rendall, a central defender, has enjoyed loan spells with non-league Gloucester City, Eastbourne Borough and most recently Eastleigh at the start of this season.

Midfielder Anthony joined the Hoops at U9’s level and spent a large part of the 2022/23 term on loan at Hanwell Town.