The truth behind QPR's transfer move for Pape Meissa Ba | OneFootball

Queens Park Rangers were extremely close to a deal for the 28-year-old striker

Queens Park Rangers have opted against signing Schalke striker Pape Meissa Ba.

Julien Stephan drew his first Championship game in charge of the Rs against Preston North End at home, before suffering a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Cup.

Up next is a trip to Watford, where QPR will hope to get some more points on the board.

Queens Park Rangers pull out of Pape Meissa Ba transfer

It looks like the West London outfit will have to embark upon the 2025/26 Championship campaign without Ba, after a new development has emerged surrounding the deal.

Previous reports suggested that QPR had reached an agreement with Schalke for the striker, with a three-year contract to be signed.

The transfer fee was rumoured to be around €500k + bonuses, with the move described as being "only a matter of time".

However, the deal is now off.

According to journalist Christopher Michel, QPR will not be signing Ba, even if the player was offered to them for free.

The report states that Stephan and Co. have cited a risk of injury as the reason for pulling out of the transfer.

However, the update says that Ba has no previous health issues and hasn’t missed a game through injury in his entire career.

The player’s camp is understood to be irritated by these statements, with it now not clear why QPR have opted against bringing the striker to Loftus Road.

Ba scored 11 goals and provided two assists in 20 games for French side Grenoble last term before moving to Schalke in January.

The 28-year-old failed to make a similar impact at the Veltins-Arena and was seemingly not a part of new manager Miron Muslic’s plans moving forward.

However, that may now have changed, following QPR’s decision to avoid signing the forward.

Richard Kone interest could have played a role in QPR’s Pape Meissa Ba decision

Kone image credit - Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

News recently emerged via Pete O'Rourke that QPR have agreed a fee with Wycombe Wanderers for striker Richard Kone, after it was revealed that the Chairboys had reduced their valuation of the striker to £3 million plus add-ons.

The 22-year-old netted 18 goals in 41 League One appearances last term and is now set for a step up to the second-tier.

This news may well be the reason why QPR have decided they no longer need Ba’s services, as it may not make sense to splash out on two new strikers.

Therefore, although Stephan and Co. have cited injury concerns as their reason for pulling out of the deal, acquiring Kone seems a much more realistic reason for doing so.