Chelsea recruit may have big impact on QPR's Jonathan Varane transfer decision | OneFootball

There's a lot of interest in QPR's Jonathan Varane at the moment, but whether he stays or leaves may come down to the progress of another QPR player.

Queens Park Rangers face a summer dilemma over the future of Jonathan Varane, one of their most impressive performers throughout the 2024-25 season.

The 2024-25 season wasn't a particularly easy one for QPR, with the team finishing the season in 15th place in the Championship and effectively managerless, following the decision to place Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave at the end of April.

Julien Stephan looks set to succeed him at Loftus Road, and he's going to have a big job on his hands in order to get the R's competing back towards the top-end of the Championship.

One of their star performers throughout the season was Varane. The 23-year-old half-brother of ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star Raphael had a decent time of things in midfield during an otherwise difficult season, but the question of what happens next with him may not be completely straightforward, with other clubs starting to circle.

Varane is the subject of considerable interest from across Europe

Varane's performances have drawn the unwanted attention of other clubs.

There has been considerable interest in the Martinique international from across the continent, as QPR look set to have their resolve tested throughout the summer.

have already confirmed interest from both Spain and Turkey, with a £4 million bid having already been made by Espanyol.

There have also been rumours linking him to the French club, Saint-Étienne, that's despite the midfielder inking a contract extension at Loftus Road as recently as May.

But the question of what Queens Park Rangers opt to do with Varane may well come down to whether they feel as though another younger player could readily step into his position.

The progress of Harvey Vale could end up determining Jonathan Varane's QPR future

Varane signed for QPR in August from the Spanish club Sporting Gijon for an undisclosed fee, which was reported to have been £875,000.

But despite the interest from elsewhere, Rangers are under no obligation to sell because of Varane's aforementioned contract extension.

As such, whether they opt to cash in on him now may come down to the development of another young player: Harvey Vale.

Vale signed for Queens Park Rangers from Chelsea in February, but has yet to make a League appearance for the club.

He'd previously had spells on loan with Hull City and Bristol Rovers, and has been capped at the England Under-15, 16, 17, 19 and Under-20 levels respectively.

If Vale has got himself to the required level to be a regular starter in the Championship for Rangers, he could slot into the gap in the first team left by Varane, which could make cashing in on his teammate seem like an obvious bit of business for the club to complete.

Vale didn't play much throughout the 2024-25 season, but his 2023-24 statistics at Bristol Rovers indicate that this is a possibility. Vale managed 75 tackles in 39 matches compared to Varane's 91 in 43 matches for QPR last season, showing that his defensive play is strong.

In an interview with the club upon signing in February 2025, Vale was asked about his preferred position, and his reply was that he feels most comfortable as an attacking midfielder: "In that attacking line is my best position, a ten position off the right or the left."

Whether he and Varane could be considered a straight swap is at best debatable, then; they are two very different types of player. Varane is certainly more defensively-minded than Vale.

In their end-of-season review of the Rangers midfield for 2024-25, fan site Loft for Words described Varane as "Unable and unwilling to turn on the ball and play forwards, the halfway line treated like a forcefield", and added about him that: "There’s so much more left to do. He has to go forwards more, with his passing, with his dribbles. He has to score goals. Goals plural."

This is not a criticism that could be levelled at Vale, who has already demonstrated his versatility, as well as his love of getting forward. The player himself said: "I see myself at the front end of the pitch, helping the team score goals and create assists."

Asked about where he sees his strengths, he replied, "In the final third of the pitch, scoring and creating, unlocking defences." If he could combine this with solid box-to-box play, he could even be an upgrade on Varane.

Julien Stephan may find Vale's versatility and eagerness to perform useful as he seeks to improve the team's performance next season, following another underwhelming season in the Championship, while his attacking mentality could offer QPR an extra string to their goal-scoring bow.

He could also ease any anxiety about cashing in on Varane and netting a tidy, quick-fire, transfer profit in the process.