QPR and Oxford United in transfer battle for 27-year-old winger | OneFootball

Thijmen Goppel is a reported transfer target for the Championship sides

Dutch winger Thijmen Goppel has emerged as a January transfer target for both Queens Park Rangers and Oxford United.

This is according to SoccerNews, an outlet in Goppel's home country, with the report stating that the West London side, as well as their Championship counterparts, are "seriously interested" in striking a deal with the 27-year-old in the upcoming winter transfer window.

Both QPR and Oxford have endured an inconsistent opening three months of the 2024/25 campaign, as the two sides are currently separated by just two places and four points, with the latter also managerless for the time being after Des Buckingham's shock dismissal following a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday.

However, that seemingly hasn't deterred the U's recruitment planning ahead of what could be a pivotal window when it comes to determining their eventual fortunes for the remainder of the season, although they are set to face strong competition from the R's and European outfits for Goppel's signature.

Thijmen Goppel emerges as a transfer target for both QPR and Oxford United

As previously mentioned, the links between Goppel and a potential move to England for the first time in his career stem from Dutch news outlet, SoccerNews.

The publication state that the Leiderdorp-born wimnger, who has previously been on the books of ADO Den Hag, has made a great impression throughout a spell with his current employers, Wehen Wiesbaden of the German 3.Liga.

Furthermore, sources close to SoccerNews have also stated that fellow 3.Liga side, SC Verl, have made a concrete offer to the man who sees his current deal at the Brita-Arena expire at the end of the season.

Thijmen Goppel's spell with Wehen Wiesbaden

Goppel signed for the Hesse-based outfit back in the 2021/22 season after spending the entirety of his career up to that point in the Netherlands, which also included spells with MMV Maastricht and Roda JC, where in his final season, he registered six goals and 13 assists across 37 appearances in all competitions, as Roda were denied a return to the Eredivisie by Excelsior in the play-offs.

During his first two seasons with Wiesbaden, the wide man accumulated 21 goal contributions in 53 league appearances, but was unable to make the strongest of contributions to the club's promotion-winning season of 2022/23, where they defeated Arminia Bielefeld in the promotion/relegation play-off, having suffered persistent injury issues across the campaign.

Despite the club failing to cement their position in the 2.Bundesliga, Goppel still managed to notch three goals and four assists across the regular campaign, with two of those goals coming in resounding victories over Hertha Berlin and SV Elversberg.

And, as the aforementioned report states, the 27-year-old has continued his relatively strong form throughout the opening months of this campaign, having featured in 12 of the club's opening 18 league games, scoring twice, registering two assists and completing a further three dribbles on average per 90 minutes.

QPR and Oxford United could acquire a bargain in the form of Thijmen Goppel

Despite the fact that Goppel is a relative unknown in English football, his career trajectory so far and array of impressive seasons means that either QPR or Oxford could have a bargain on their hands, if they are able to lure the winger to either Loftus Road or the Kassam Stadium.

The European market isn't something which either club are scared to tap into either, with eight of the R's summer acquisitions coming from sides across the continent, whilst Oxford secured the services of fellow Dutchman Hidde ter Avest and Marselino Ferdinan from FC Utrecht and KMSK Deinze respectively.