Asmir Begovic sends message to QPR supporters as Celtic circle | OneFootball

The 37-year-old is set to part ways with the Hoops after just 12 months at Loftus Road

Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has posted a goodbye message to the fans, with the Bosnian set to leave the club at the end of his contract this week.

The former AFC Bournemouth man had been weighing up his options after being offered a new contract at Loftus Road, but has now made his future clear with the post on his Instagram page.

The 37-year-old moved to the West London side last summer on a one-year deal, and kept 13 clean sheets as he helped Marti Cifuentes’ side stay in the division after a miraculous mid-season turnaround.

But with rumours of interest from Scottish giants Celtic this summer, Begovic has decided to move on upon the expiration of his contract in three days' time.

Asmir Begovic says goodbye to Queens Park Rangers fans after just one season at Loftus Road

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Begovic proved to be a huge part in the R’s survival bid in the previous campaign, with the shot-stopper playing in all but one game as they maintained their second tier status for another season.

The imposing glovesman helped to patrol his backline when confidence was low at the start of the season under Gareth Ainsworth, before earning valuable points when things turned around under the arriving Cifuentes.

A run of just two defeats in 13 league games from January to April was enough to turn around the Hoops’ fortunes come the end of the season, as Rangers finished six points above 22nd placed Birmingham City in the final standings.

Begovic played just as big a part in that survival bid as any, and as he prepares to leave the club in the coming days, he posted the following messages to his followers on social media:

“Thank you to everyone at @OfficialQPR for your support this past season. Really enjoyed my time at the club. Wishing you all the very best for the future. I am really excited for the next challenge!”

What that next challenge will be remains to be seen, but with the reigning Scottish Premiership champions said to be keen, the Bosnian international has options ahead of him after leaving Loftus Road.

Former side AFC Bournemouth are also reported to have an interest in bringing the big Balkan back to the Vitality Stadium, with The Sun journalist Alan Nixon reporting the link last month.

Queens Park Rangers set to seal Paul Nardi deal as Asmir Begovic replacement

Rangers have wasted no time in getting in another choice between the sticks for the upcoming campaign, with former Gent shot-stopper Paul Nardi said to be close to agreeing a deal with the club.

The Frenchman has played over 200 matches across leagues in Belgium and France during his career, and leaves the Jupiler Pro League side after two years as first-choice.

Having suffered an injury in the previous campaign, Nardi only managed to play ten league games, but having become a free agent in the summer, Cifuentes [pictured above] is said to be close to bolstering his options in the battle for the number one spot for the upcoming campaign.

Begovic isn’t the only goalkeeper to have left Loftus Road this summer, with former Middlesbrough man Jordan Archer also waving goodbye to the club after three years in West London, although he failed to make a league appearance for the club in that time.