QPR should launch move for Japanese star - He can light up Loftus Road | OneFootball

The winger excelled on loan at QPR last season

After three consecutive seasons on loan away from Belgian side SK Lommel, Koki Saito will likely be angling for a permanent move away from the club this summer.

Saito left Queens Park Rangers in June after his loan spell expired. In his Championship campaign, the 23-year-old scored three and assisted two in 39 games, 25 of which were as part of the starting eleven.

Saito's season came to a tumultuous end, missing six of the last eight games due to suspension and injury, but before then, he was beginning to establish himself as a regular in the Hoops' lineup, scoring in home games against Derby County and Leeds United.

The Japanese winger was incredibly dynamic going forward last season, but also provided a lot in defensive situations too, and after beginning to become a fan favourite at Loftus Road, it would truly be a no-brainer for the R's to go back in for him on a permanent deal this summer.

Koki Saito was settling in at QPR, and can continue to do so next season

Moving to a new country can always see a slow start for any player. Saito may have assisted on his debut from the bench against Sheffield United, but it took him another 19 league games following that to pop up with another goal contribution.

But as the season grew, Saito began to warm to his surroundings. QPR's form may have completely fallen away in the second half of last season, but the 23-year-old began to show signs of why the Hoops brought him in the first place.

Ultimately, this season will go down as the winger's worst in terms of combined goals and assists, but the Saito who netted ten and assisted ten in two seasons in the Eredivisie was beginning to show in his final months at Loftus Road.

Additionally, Saito ranked in the top 10% of Championship left-wingers for fouls won, according to Fotmob, and his 40 successful dribbles and 104 touches in the opponent's box shows that he can be a handful for full-backs at this level.

He also won 41 tackles and 186 duels out on the wing, so there's a real grit in his performances as well. QPR fans were really starting to see a great player blossom in front of their eyes, only for him to return to Lommel at the end of the spell.

Ultimately, Hoops fans will be hoping that Saito doesn't become one of the many loan players football fans fall in love with, as it's clear that he could progress tenfold if brought back into the fold for a second season.

Koki Saito would add to an already impressive QPR attack

Julien Stephan has wasted no time in improving his attacking options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and Koki Saito could further add to that.

Karamoko Dembele's loan from Brest was made permanent, and Kwame Poku is being regarded as one of the Championship signings of the summer after the winger lit up League One at Peterborough United.

Additionally, Harvey Vale looks set to make his QPR debut this season (albeit not a Stephan signing) and Charlie Kelman is still currently at Loftus Road having come off the back of an incredible scoring season at Leyton Orient.

Adding Saito to all of that would just serve to improve the quality of depth across the frontline at Loftus Road, ensuring that the standard wouldn't drop if anyone picked up an injury or was unavailable through suspension.

Healthy competition will be needed during a 46-game season, and Julien Stephen would be wise to ensure that Saito sticks around past last season's loan spell to ensure that said competition is rife before their season opener against Preston North End.