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Saturday, April 05, 2008

QPR's Transfer Targets

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Ealing Gazette/David McIntyre
Rangers targeting two former players for new streamlined squad


QPR will target five players - including former Loftus Road stars Lee Cook and Dan Shittu - to sign at the end of the season.
Coach Luigi De Canio wants to start next term with a firstteam squad of around 22 players, meaning there will probably be a limit on the number of signings despite the ambitions of the club's wealthy owners.
There will also be outgoings in order to keep the squad trim and manageable with defender Zesh Rehman and former captain Adam Bolder among those on the way out.
Rehman was one of several players told earlier this season that he had no future at the club and should move on.
But while the likes of Danny Cullip, Nick Ward and Pat Kanyuka reached a financial settlement and left the club, Rehman remained and has even featured for the first team on a number of occasions.
Bolder has impressed on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and is likely to make the move permanent in the summer.
Rangers still have to decide on the future of American goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who recently joined on a contract until the end of the season as cover for first-choice stopper Lee Camp.
Cook, 25, has yet to make an appearance for Fulham since securing a move from Rangers last summer.
QPR made two attempts to sign him back on loan before he joined Charlton until the end of the season.
Now the plan is to try and come to an agreement with Fulham in the summer, while also attempting to bring Shittu back from Watford.
The Nigerian international is likely to stay put if the Hornets are promoted, but otherwise he could make the move back to W12 if Watford are willing to accept a deal worth around £1.6m - more or less the fee Watford paid for him.
Rangers have struggled defensively since Shittu left in 2006 and his return would be welcomed by most fans.
There are also plans to bring Portsmouth defender Martin Cranie back on loan - possibly a season-long deal. Cranie, 21, impressed before a previous loan spell at Rangers was cut short when he suffered a leg injury.
Rangers, also who tried to sign Cranie before his move from Southampton to Portsmouth last summer, would like to have him back although the player is not keen on a permanent switch.
Meanwhile, playmaker Akos Buzsaky is doubtful for Rangers' home match against Preston tomorrow (Saturday).
The Hungarian missed the 0-0 draw at Ipswich with an ankle injury he recently aggravated while on international duty, and he faces a fitness test before this weekend's game.
But captain Martin Rowlands has recovered from a neck strain and has been passed fit to play. Ealing Gazette