QPR boss confronts transfer talk while Hull City and Rangers target Championship sta
The latest round of Championship fixtures has seen QPR jump up to 13th in the table, just months after looking destined for a relegation battle after a difficult start to the season.
Marti Cifuentes’ side beat Luton Town for the third time this term with a 2-1 victory at Loftus Road on Monday night, piling on the misery for the out-of-sorts Hatters. The R’s go into the tricky trip to Premier League side Leicester City in FA Cup action buoyed by recent form this weekend.
QPR feature alongside Luton Town and Watford in your Tuesday morning Championship round-up.
Cifuentes responds to QPR transfer talk
QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes reaffirmed his desires to keep striker Zan Celar at the club past the January transfer window following victory over Luton Town on Monday night. The 25-year-old only arrived at Loftus Road from Lugano last summer but has struggled for form since arriving in the UK.
The Slovenia international has now picked up an injury and German outlet Deichstube claiming that the striker has been offered to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen this month. Cifuentes was asked whether he hopes Celar is still a QPR player come the end of the month and replied: “Of course.”
Marti Cifuentes and Zan Celar.
Marti Cifuentes and Zan Celar. | Getty Images
QPR now have a wealth of striking options with Michael Frey fit again and on the scoresheet against Luton Town. Alfie Lloyd impressed from the bench with the up-and-coming Rayan Kolli another option in the matchday squad. Cifuentes said: “He [Lloyd] is developing a great ability by himself to create a lot of things around him, things happen around him. I’m a bit sad for him because he definitely deserved a goal.
“It was difficult to take the decision [to bring him on] because also Rayan has been performing really well. The good thing is now, even though we are missing Zan, we have three strikers who can play at the top with different qualities and it’s about me making the right decision. I think Michi did really well but we need to remember he’s still coming back from an injury and we need to go step by step with him.”
Luton Town manager Rob Edwards has maintained his confidence in the backing of the club’s board following a fourth straight Championship loss. The Hatters have now lost their last 10 away games.
Speaking after the 2-1 defeat to QPR at Loftus Road on Monday night, which saw the side sink to 20th in the second tier table following relegation from the Premier League last season, Edwards said: “The results aren’t good enough. You can see that the players are giving everything but results aren’t good enough and we are in a results business.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Gary and the board. We continue to work really, really hard, the players, the staff, everybody. We’re in a results business and that’s it. The results aren’t good enough.”
Watford star linked with Rangers and Hull City
Watford defender Ryan Porteous is reportedly wanting a move away from Vicarage Road this January with rumours of interest from Glasgow giants Rangers swirling around Hertfordshire.
Porteous joined Watford from Hibs in January 2023.
Porteous joined Watford from Hibs in January 2023. | Getty Images
The 25-year-old has been a mainstay under Tom Cleverley this season, making 20 appearances in the league so far, but was benched against Sheffield United last time out for the first time since the start of October. Fusball Europa claim that the Scotland international ‘lacks the appreciation of Cleverley’, citing the recent benching as proof of that.
Hull City are said to be another club looking at a January move for the former Hibs and Edinburgh City star, who joined Watford in January 2023. Porteous has made 113 Scottish Premiership appearances and 74 Championship appearances in his career so far, as well as featuring for Scotland at Euro 2024 last summer.
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