QPR latest: Doubt over Marti Cifuentes to Sunderland, compensation detailed, Rotherham United chase | OneFootball

Queens Park Rangers are a team on the up after manager Marti Cifuentes guided them to safety against all odds, having improved the side in a variety of different ways.

Following his arrival in late October, and after a poor start to the season under Gareth Ainsworth when they looked one of the favourites for relegation, Cifuentes' side turned things around and the Rs have looked transformed under the Spaniard's tutelage.

That's despite spending the majority of the season in the relegation zone, as they secured survival with a game to spare. Under Cifuentes, QPR have been markedly better in many areas and look like a side improving rapidly, despite a small dip in form during late December and early January, but it is the defence and out-of-possession shape that has come on the most.

The Spaniard arrived at the club earlier last season relatively unknown, but it soon became clear that he was a very impressive coach, as he ended up doing a fantastic job keeping the Rs in the second tier.

Their 4-0 win against Leeds United during the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign shows just how impressive they can be under Cifuentes at their best, but they need to ensure they aren't too reliant on their current boss to stay put.

With that said, and safety assured, the club can begin planning for next term, and how they operate in the market will have a big say on whether they can look up the table as opposed to down it in 2024/25. They can build a stronger side, capable of survival with or without Cifuentes in charge.

QPR recorded the sixth-oldest starting XI in the Championship, according to Transfermarkt, this season and they have a big summer ahead of them if they're to build a side capable of competing towards the top half of the table. Here, in the meantime, we have rounded up all the latest news coming out of Loftus Road, with the Rs now looking for acquisitions in the transfer market.

The latest on Marti Cifuentes and Sunderland

QPR’s boss is one of the latest names to emerge as a potential candidate for the head coach vacancy at Sunderland. However, the Black Cats will have to fork out a hefty compensation fee if they are to appoint Cifuentes, according to Alan Nixon.

With the QPR boss popular among key figures at the Stadium of Light, he looks to be one of the leading candidates to take the job, although it's unclear whether he would be open to this switch.

It's no surprise that Cifuentes has attracted interest considering how well he did at Loftus Road last term - and the Rs will be compensated if he goes - with the Black Cats needing to fork out a six-figure fee if they are to have any chance of luring him away from the English capital.

It's unclear at this stage if Sunderland will budge, but their Sporting Director, Kristjaan Speakman, has previously stated that the club would be willing to pay a compensation fee to a club in order to get the manager that they wanted.

The good news for the West Londoners is that it appears Liam Rosenior, who is available after being sacked by Hull City, could be in line to take charge at Sunderland.

Carlton Palmer's reaction to Cifuentes news

Carlton Palmer has dismissed the idea of Cifuentes joining Sunderland this summer, stating that it would be very surprising. He also does not expect Liam Rosenior to take over the reins at the Stadium of Light, as the club’s search for Michael Beale’s successor continues.

“Sunderland have been linked with several different managers in recent weeks for the vacant manager’s job that is available,”Palmer told Football League World.

“Names in recent weeks [include] Will Still, Pascal Jansen, Dave Challinor and Steve Robinson, none of these have come to fruition.

“The latest name to be linked is Liam Rosenior, but again no substance to this. Another name that’s popped out is Martí Cifuentes, QPR’s manager.

“I can’t see this happening. First of all, compensation will have to be paid. I can’t see Sunderland paying compensation, I can’t see QPR allowing Cifuentes to leave the football club. “And I can’t believe that Cifuentes would want to leave the football club given what he achieved last season in keeping QPR in the league last season. “QPR will want to keep him, obviously there is a problem financially in terms of players, and what he’s allowed to bring in. “But like I’ve said before, the Sunderland job appears to be a difficult situation for anybody to step into. “From what is coming out of the football club, is that you’re not allowed to bring into your coaching staff, you’re allowed to bring in one person and then you’ve got to work within the realms of how they want to run the football club. “This is their choice, their policy, of bringing in young players in, not really signing senior players and the control that’s taken away from the manager. “As I’ve said, it’s going to be a very, very difficult appointment because any manager that is worth his salt, unless you’re really desperate to get back into work, you’re only set up to fail under the regime that Sunderland have set up. “This is disappointing for the supporters, disappointing so close to the season. You’d obviously want to have a manager in place to start getting to work in the transfer market for the upcoming season.

“But, as I said, that’s not the case and I’d be very, very surprised if Cifuentes is the next Sunderland manager.”

QPR battle for Rotherham's Cameron Humphreys

Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, QPR, and Swansea City are all interested in signing Rotherham United defender Cameron Humphreys, according to Football Insider.

QPR will be looking for reinforcements across the board, and the 25-year-old has one year left on his contract at the New York Stadium. Rotherham "could look to cash in on their prized asset" this summer following relegation, and he seemingly has no shortage of Championship suitors, including Cifuentes' side.

Humphreys began his career with Manchester City, and he made two senior appearances during his time at the Etihad Stadium, with both coming in the FA Cup during the 2015-16 season. However, after a brief stint in Belgium, he joined Rotherham in the summer of 2022.

Rotherham conceded 89 goals as they were relegated from the second tier this season, but it would be harsh to blame Humphreys for his side's defensive problems, as he was one of few players to emerge with any credit from what was an incredibly disappointing campaign for the Millers.