QPR have struck gold with deal for Irish star - Sheffield United have seriously missed out | OneFootball

Jimmy Dunne was linked with a move away from QPR earlier this year, with Sheffield United eyeing the defender

QPR will likely make many signings this summer but no deal may prove as strong as the agreement to renew Jimmy Dunne’s contract with the club despite interest from Sheffield United.

It was exclusively revealed last January that the centre-back was on the Blades’ radar as he entered the final months of his deal with the London outfit.

While Sheffield United did fail in their bid to gain promotion to the Premier League, QPR supporters were still quite concerned that the defender was going to be heading for the exit door this summer and make the switch to Bramall Lane.

But that didn’t come to pass, with the Irishman putting pen to paper on a three-year deal, which Julien Stéphan will be delighted about as he starts work at Loftus Road.

QPR have already signed the likes of Kwame Poku and Amadou Mbengue, but it could be the re-signing of Dunne that proves the club’s best bit of business all transfer window.

Jimmy Dunne’s impact at QPR

It’s no surprise that Dunne was wanted by Sheffield United given his level of performances for QPR over the years.

The centre-back made the move to the London outfit from Burnley in the summer of 2021, and has since established himself as a standout player in the division.

The 27-year-old instantly became a regular in the QPR side, playing 38 times in the 2021/21 campaign, with the team finishing 11th in the table under Mark Warburton.

While the team did start to struggle over the next couple of seasons, coming 20th and 18th, respectively, he still managed to impress people with his quality and consistent level of displays.

Dunne thrived under Martí Cifuentes, and played in all but one league game last season, with the side improving to 15th in the standings.

The Irishman’s aerial presence and willingness to get stuck in make him a tough defender that any forward in the Championship will be worried about facing.

The defender won 4.67 aerials last season (per stats from Fbref), and made 2.51 tackles per 90.

Dunne is also a stronger threat in the box than most defenders in the division, which teams will always appreciate, with the defender taking 1.22 shots per game and getting 2.8 touches in the opposition area, making a strong weapon from set pieces.

QPR renewing Dunne is a positive sign of their progress

QPR were in a very difficult position both on and off the pitch in recent years, with the team struggling to compete financially.

That reality was met on the pitch, as the team slid down the table from competing in the top half to almost dropping into League One prior to Cifuentes’ arrival.

His departure early in the summer could’ve been the beginning of a worrying period for the London outfit, but Dunne’s given his seal of approval for the trajectory of QPR by signing this new deal.

Stéphan is an exciting appointment as manager, and the Hoops are now in a positive place going into the new season.

Sheffield United’s loss will be QPR’s gain going into the new era under Stéphan.