QPR news: Reading FC star wanted, Middlesbrough's Marti Cifuentes stance, Brighton player linked | OneFootball

All the latest news surrounding QPR

QPR are preparing for another campaign in the Championship after coming 15th in the 2024/25 season.

Manager Martí Cifuentes departed ahead of the final fixture of the season, leaving the London outfit without a head coach going into the summer.

The Hoops will be hoping the Spaniard’s replacement will be able to improve on the side’s mid-table finish, as they look to climb into the top half of the standings.

QPR have been outside of the Premier League ever since their 2015 relegation, and have only finished inside the top 10 of the Championship once in the years since.

Here we take a look at all the latest news surrounding the club at the start of the key summer:

QPR’s Amadou Mbengue pursuit

It has been reported by West London Sport that QPR are eyeing a move for Reading defender Amadou Mbengue this summer.

The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of the month, and will be free to discuss terms with a new club.

Mbengue was a regular presence in the Reading side last year as they fought for promotion to the Championship, just narrowly missing out on a play-off place.

He also has previous experience in the second tier, playing 26 times for the Royals during the 2022/23 campaign in which they suffered relegation.

However, QPR face competition from the likes of Watford, Preston North End and Charlton Athletic in the race to his signature.

It remains to be seen what Mbengue’s preference would be ahead of his impending exit from Reading.

Middlesbrough’s Martí Cifuentes stance

Cifuentes was placed on gardening leave ahead of QPR’s final fixture of the campaign, with speculation mounting over his future.

However, he remains without a next job lined up over a month later, having previously been linked with the West Brom job, to which Ryan Mason was eventually appointed.

According to The Northern Echo, the 42-year-old is not in line to take over Middlesbrough following Michael Carrick’s exit.

The Teesside outfit are conducting interviews with a number of prospective coaches after dismissing Carrick as manager.

However, it’s understood that the former QPR boss is not under consideration at this time.

Odeluga Offiah transfer interest

QPR and Charlton Athletic are both interested in a move for Odeluga Offiah this summer.

It has been reported by Richard Cawley on Substack that the 22-year-old is attracting interest.

It’s believed that Brighton would be open to a move, with the defender spending last season on loan with Blackpool in League One, making 40 appearances.

Don Goodman issues QPR manager hunt warning

Speaking exclusively for FLW, Don Goodman has warned QPR that they are leaving it quite late to find a replacement for Cifuentes.

He criticised the club, suggesting this is a time where plans need to be in place ahead of pre-season getting underway in a few weeks.

"I do think any club currently, at this stage in proceedings, without a manager is really leaving it a bit late, to be honest," said Goodman.

"I think that the players will be back in about three weeks for pre-season.

"This is a period where planning should be being done, rubber-stamped and finalised, so the fact that QPR haven't managed to sort that is not great."