QPR backed to sign Brentford player who is a "monster" in midfield | OneFootball

FLW's QPR Fan Pundit has identified the Brentford midfielder as a player the R's should sign.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva's contract ran until 30th June, but he is staying in West London to work on his recovery over the summer.

The 26-year-old has been recovering from a big knee injury that required surgery in February last year, limiting him to just five appearances during the 23/24 season.

Dasilva's injury history includes a previous 12-month absence between February 2021 and February 2022 - due to a hip injury that specialists initially suggested could end his career.

However, the midfielder successfully returned from that setback and injured an injury-free 22/23 campaign, making 36 league appearances for the Bees, scoring four goals and managing two assists.

Case made for QPR to swoop for Josh Dasilva

FLW's QPR Fan Pundit, Louis Moir, has identified Josh Dasilva as the signing he would most like to see the R's pursue before the September 1st transfer deadline.

"Obviously, he’s had major injury problems recently, hasn’t played a lot of football whatsoever, but we’re in the market for midfielders similar to him and in that sort of position," Moir told FLW.

"With him only still being 26 years of age, if he’s sort of getting back, recovering, it could be worth taking a chance on someone like that, especially out of contract, wouldn’t cost the club anything and a drop back down to Championship level," he added.

Dasilva's Championship pedigree is evident, having made 92 league appearances for Brentford and scored 16 goals during their time in the second-tier.

Moir focused on what DaSilva could bring to the R's current midfield setup, describing him as fitting perfectly into the 'number 8' role, "He’s one player who at Brentford in the Championship I loved watching, bit of a monster in midfield, could drive with the ball, turn, technically very gifted, a player with a lot of ability."

QPR told they need to strengthen their midfield

QPR's summer transfer activity has already seen the arrival of five players, including forward Rumarn Burrell who joined from Burton Albion for a reported fee of just over £1m.

With no central midfielder's on that list yet, Moir drew attention to Dasilva's previous performances against QPR during his time at Brentford.

"He played well against QPR many times, and if he’s sort of back to full fitness - and you never know with his injuries it might be behind him now - I think a player like that is certainly interesting to look at and in the position we need, sort of in that number 8, roaming midfielder," Moir said.

"If he (Dasilva) was to stay fit and play his football back in the Championship you never know he could actually be a massive, massive asset to someone at this level."

Having contributed to 10 league goals during the 19/20 season, it's clear Dasilva has the ability to make driving runs from midfield to score when at full fitness.

In their friendly against Dutch outfit SC Herenveen, QPR's current number 8, Sam Field, started the match alongside Nicolas Madsen - but Moir has already told FLW that the club lack goals from the midfield area.

After a successful loan spell during the second-half of the 20/21 season, Field joined QPR permanently on a three-year deal, but hasn't managed to score more than four Championship goals in his last four full seasons at the club.

Obviously, it's unclear whether QPR will hold any interest in Dasilva at all - especially while he continues his recovery at Brentford, but Moir's verdict suggests the club's lack of goals from central areas could be solved by his signing.