Why Richard Kone has joined QPR - One reason involves Julien Stephan | OneFootball

The young forward has revealed why he’s opted to swap Wycombe Wanderers for Loftus Road

Young striker Richard Kone has completed his much-discussed move from Wycombe Wanderers to the Championship, with Queens Park Rangers winning the race.

The 22-year-old burst onto the scene last term, scooping up both the EFL’s League One Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.

Both the transfer fee paid by QPR and the length of contract Kone has been handed remain undisclosed at this stage.

The new Rangers man has, however, revealed what prompted him to join the club, with plenty of suitors vying for his signature.

Kone reveals Julien Stephan motivation for joining QPR

Ahead of his move, Kone revealed that he had a call with Julien Stephan, CEO Christian Nourry and head of recruitment Andy Belk, in a conversation that proved a key motivating factor for accepting QPR’s proposal.

Speaking to club media, Kone said: “It was a really positive chat. They showed me the project and it was really exciting.”

“For what [Stephan] has done in the past with young players, I think that as well was one of the things that pushed me.

“I want to know what it is to work under him.”

New striker can address a key Rangers issue

QPR were without a reliable, consistent goalscorer last season, with Michael Frey topping the club’s charts in the Championship with eight goals.

Kone, albeit in a lower division, netted 18 in 41 games for Wycombe Wanderers, alongside three assists, so should immediately lift the attacking impetus of the side, something the player himself believes he can do.

“I try my best to be better every day,” Kone told QPR’s website. “I think they can expect goals from me – goals, working hard off the ball and linking up with my team-mates.

“I'll back myself and say I will score goals. I've always believed in myself, no matter the level. You still have to improve, keep on learning and add to what you have already.”

QPR should be happy with their attacking reinforcements

Kone will join another former League One star at Loftus Road in Kwame Poku, who registered 20 goal involvements in just 27 third-tier appearances for Peterborough United, having had his season disrupted by injury, before moving to west London.

He is slightly older than Kone at 24, but still has plenty of years ahead of him to improve and develop, and based on Kone’s first words for his new club, Stephan is a key selling point because he can offer exactly that.

Signing the best players from the division below is not the most covert recruitment method, but when you’re starved of goals, as QPR were, then picking up players who already have goalscoring momentum behind them, and may be cheaper due to lack of experience at the level, is not a bad starting place.

The job now falls to Stephan to knit these bright talents together as part of the rest of his squad, as on paper the talent appears to be at his disposal.