Ben Watson Set to Sign for QPR?...Lee Cook - Year Flashback: Cook Joins Fulham

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Obviously reading this, it's almost a case of deja vu/"been there; done that" but given that the other top contender for Watson, Birmingham have been signing other players; and given that Watson has a declining value to Palace, sounds (hopefully) plausible.

According to today's Mirror (via BBC Gossip)
"QPR manager Iain Dowie is expected to complete the signing of Ben Watson from Crystal Palace for £1.75m. (Daily Mirror)" BBC


Lee Cook Departure Anniversary

The Lee Cook saga has been going on so long: First the various transfer rumours about him leaving QPR; and subsequently the various rumours about him returning to QPR - but it's one year today, since Lee Cook actually left QPR for Fulham. At the time of his sale, QPR announced his fee as being "£2.5million, which could potentially rise to as much as £4.5million."


July 19, 2007 FULHAM OFFICIAL SITE - Lee Cook Joins

Fulham Football Club can confirm that Lee Cook has joined the Club from Queens Park Rangers on a four year deal that will see the 24 year-old player at the Club until 2011.
Lee Cook joined his boyhood Club Queens Park Rangers from Watford in the summer of 2004, after an impressive loan spell with The R’s secured a permanent deal. Cook made some impressive performances during his time at Loftus Road which earned the midfielder the Young Player of the Year award in his first season, followed by both the Supporters’ Player and Players’ Player of the Year awards.
The highly-rated left sided midfielder helped Queens Park Rangers secure safety in the Championship during the last campaign.
Fulham Manager, Lawrie Sanchez said:
"I am pleased to have added Lee to our summer signings and am confident that he has the ability to play at this level, I know that he is hungry and ambitious and will do everything he can to impress in this league. Lee’s addition gives us much needed left sided options and I am now approaching the first game of our season, confident that we have a squad of players that will do well." Fulham

QPR OFFICIAL SITE COOK DEPARTS
Lee Cook has joined Premiership Club Fulham for a fee of £2.5million, which could potentially rise to as much as £4.5million.
The 24 year-old midfielder, who joined the R's from Watford in July 2004 for £150,000, has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at Craven Cottage.
Cook was named both Player's Player and Supporter's Player of the Year last season, despite missing five of the R's last six Championship fixtures, owing to a knee injury.
In his two spells with the Club - he initially joined on loan during the 2002/03 season - Cook made 140 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals.
Manager John Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk: "I was kind of hoping that this day would never come but, unfortunately for me and QPR, it has.
"I, along with everyone at the Club, will be sad to lose a player of Lee's ability. Ultimately, the decision to let him go to Fulham was down to me.
"Both the Chairman and I had long discussions over the financial offer that Fulham made to us. The offer was increased three times before we decided to accept the transfer fee and allow Lee to go and sign a four-year deal with our neighbours, which will secure his own personal financial future.
"It just remains for me to thank him for the massive contribution he has made to QPR, and to wish him every success for the future.
"And, as he is a QPR fan, we look forward to welcoming him back to Loftus Road to cheer on his old Club."
The Club would like to thank Lee for his contribution to QPR and wish him all the best in the future. QPR

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - EXCLUSIVE: LURE OF THE PREM
Lee Cook has revealed exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk why he's making the short trip down the road to Premier ship neighbours Fulham.
Speaking moments after putting pen to paper on a four-year deal at Craven Cottage, Cook was keen to set the record straight on why he's leaving the Club he supported as a boy.
"As well as being a very exciting day for Lee Cook, it is also a very sad one. I have had three great years at QPR and have met many great people,'' he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"Being a QPR fan, it is very difficult to leave this all behind, but I hope everyone understands that this is something I have to do.
"I move across West London to a team which is becoming a real force and is really looking forward to push on. It seems a really friendly Club and the Chairman is really supporting the Manager to make Fulham one of the top Premier League Club's and to be asked to be part of that means everything to me as a footballer.
"I have a lot of respect for teams in West London. Many players have played for QPR, as well as Fulham, and I'm really looking forward to working with Lawrie Sanchez.
"It is an exciting time for me and Fulham and I can't wait to get started and test myself against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.''
The 24 year-old left-sided midfielder expressed his thanks and gratitude to the QPR faithful, who made his stay in W12 such a memorable one.
"It is hard to explain the feeling you get when you wear the shirt of a football team that you have supported all your life. My first game - a full house against Brentford - was such a special and proud day for me and my family, and it has only got better since.
"I hope I have excited and entertained the fans over the last three years, and it has been an absolute honour to play in front of everyone at Loftus Road.
"I will miss the fans; they have been great to me. Thank you so much for your support and voting for me as last season's Player of the Year - that really was a dream come true.
"You do not realise how important you are to the team. The noise Loftus Road can make really gives the players a buzz and makes it very difficult for teams to play here.
"I will miss many friends I have made here at QPR. They are a great set of lads and deserve every success. I know I will be keeping contact with the lads and will be coming to Loftus Road many times to give my support to the team.
"I would also like to thank the Management staff and especially John Gregory. He is a great man and Manager, and I am so glad to have played under him and hopefully, will do so again in the future.
"Thank you once again for your outstanding support - I will miss you all and cannot wait to see you again on my birthday, Friday 3rd August.'' QPR Report

Other Cook-to-Fulham reports