"Strange one" - Pundit reacts to QPR, Zan Celar transfer news | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has given his reaction to reports that striker Zan Celar is keen to leave QPR in January, despite only joining the club in the summer.

Pundit Carlton Palmer believes Queens Park Rangers should cash in on striker Zan Celar in January amid reports that he is keen to leave the club.

Celar made the move to QPR from Swiss side Lugano in July, and he endured a tough start to his time at Loftus Road as he failed to score in his first 19 appearances for the R's.

The 25-year-old finally opened his account for the Hoops when he scored twice in the 2-0 win at Cardiff City in November, but just over a week later, he sustained a hamstring injury in the 3-0 win over Norwich City, and he has been sidelined ever since.

Despite only joining the R's in the summer, Deichstube claimed earlier this week that Celar is looking to depart in the January transfer window, and he has reportedly been offered to Werder Bremen, but the Bundesliga side have rejected the opportunity to sign the Slovenia international due to his injury.

Celar's injury was initially seen as a big blow for the Hoops, but Marti Cifuentes' side have performed well in his absence, and they currently sit 15th in the Championship table after just one defeat in their last 10 games.

Carlton Palmer issues verdict on Zan Celar's QPR future

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer questioned why any club would sign Celar while he is out injured, but he said that QPR should cash in on the striker if he is keen to leave Loftus Road.

"Reports are coming out of QPR that Zan Celar wants to leave the club, with Werder Bremen reportedly keen on the player," Palmer said.

"It's a strange one this one.

"The striker has come in, he's scored two goals in 22 matches in all competitions, with both of those coming in the win over Cardiff in November.

"Last month, he picked up an injury in QPR's 3-0 win over Norwich and he's been sidelined since then, so I'm sure that's going to be a problem for the 25-year-old.

"Who is going to sign a player who is not playing football? It's a strange one.

"Apparently he's been offered to Werder Bremen, so obviously talks have gone on between the club and the player if these reports are to be believed.

"The Bundesliga side want to improve their attack for the second half of the season, but if he's injured, they won't want to sign him if he can't play first team football.

"It's a strange one, I don't know if this is his agent being busy, but I can't see why QPR would want to get rid of a player that they've only just brought into the football club.

"But who knows, maybe the player isn't happy and hasn't settled and his agent is trying to engineer a move, we really don't know in a situation like this.

"If a player wants to leave a football club, then it's better to move him on, so I would have thought that conversations are happening between the player and the club.

"If he wants to leave, QPR should cash in, and at least it's at the start of the transfer window so they can get him out and get someone in to replace him."

Michael Frey return could impact QPR's Zan Celar decision

It remains to be seen whether there is any truth to reports linking Celar with a move away from QPR, but it would certainly be strange if he was eyeing an exit just six months after joining the club.

Celar had a difficult start to life at Loftus Road, but in his defence, he was far from the only player to underperform in the opening months of the season, and his performances had improved prior to his injury.

Given their lack of depth in the striker department, the R's will be reluctant to cash in on Celar in January, but the recent return of Michael Frey after two months out with a calf injury could convince them to allow him to leave.

Frey has scored five goals in 15 games this season, and he looks certain to lead the line when fit, so if the Hoops are able to bring in a replacement for Celar, his departure may not be too damaging for Cifuentes' side.