Gorkss Hopefully Signs for QPR Next Week...and Will Bid Again for Watson

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[Updated piece from Dave McIntyre]

Dave McIntyre/Ealing Gazette - QPR to sign Gorkss

QPR expect to complete the signing of Blackpool centre-back Kaspars Gorkss next week, writes David McIntyre.

Gorkss, a Latvian international, has attracted interest from a number of clubs but Rangers believe they are in pole position to sign the 26-year-old.

The club will also table another bid for midfielder Ben Watson, who is expected to reject Crystal Palace's latest offer of a new contract. Rangers failed to land the former England U21 international after offering Palace a deal worth £1.2m, potentially rising to £1.5m subject to certain clauses.

The Eagles are keen to keep Watson, 22, but he is entering the last year of his contract and has indicated that he will not sign a new deal. Rangers hope this will enable them to tempt Palace with an improved offer after the weekend.

Former Palace manager Iain Dowie knows Watson well from his time in charge at Selhurst Park and identified him as a potential signing as soon as he took over at QPR.

Rangers have abandoned a bid to re-sign Dan Shittu from Watford and appear to have drawn a blank over Tottenham's Anthony Gardner who is looking elsewhere.

Rangers' ambitious targeting of Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood looks like being just as unproductive but they do have a realistic chance of signing West Ham forward Bobby Zamora, whose future is likely to be decided in the next couple of weeks.

And there may have been a significant development in the longstanding attempt to bring Lee Cook back to Loftus Road with the departure on Monday of Fulham managing director David McNally.

Rangers have believed for some time that McNally's possible exit could pave the way for them to re-sign Cook.

McNally presided over Fulham's signing of Cook from QPR last year and was reluctant to let him return for a cut-price fee. His successor could look to offload several players and Cook, who has not played in a competitive match for Fulham, may be among those available at a knockdown price.

Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson has also been targeted but he now looks to be well out of Dowie's reach unless Boro tie the highly-rated youngster to a long-term contact and then agree to loan him out.

But overseas recruits remain a possibility. Dowie is currently scouting at the Campionato Primavera - an annual U20 tournament for Italy's top clubs. Ealing Gazette