
According to a recent X update from reporter Mark McAdam, Championship trio QPR, Oxford United and West Bromwich Albion have all enquired to Chelsea about Vale’s availability, while Sunderland, Anderlecht, Hannover and both Leuven and Heerenveen of Belgium and the Netherlands have also been credited with an interest.
The Cobham academy product has made just two UEFA Europa Conference League appearances for Chelsea, with the bulk of his senior footballing experience arriving in a productive loan spell with League One side Bristol Rovers last season.
But why are QPR and West Brom, among other sides, competing to acquire Vale’s services this month? Football League World takes a closer look…
Harvey Vale’s Bristol Rovers loan success will prompt Championship interest
The former England U20 international thrived for Rovers, scoring three goals and making a further six assists from 47 matches across all competitions. He ranked among the most creative left-sided operators in the third-tier last season, and though evidently not yet the finished article, it is clear he’s ready for the Championship.
It appears the next natural course of action in his development and, given just how promising he was in League One, it is little wonder why clubs in the Championship are vying to land his signature.
Harvey Vale’s profile will be attractive to QPR, West Brom
The most outstanding feature of Vale’s footballing profile is his versatility, which will make him an extremely attractive proposition as he can operate well in a variety of playing positions.
The Chelsea prospect is capable playing anywhere on the left-hand side and made his name with the Blues’ academy set-up as a winger, although he was deployed as an all-action left-sided wing-back for Rovers last time out.
Vale is a natural athlete with bags of pace and energy, which means he can get up and down the left flank with ease and play an important role at either end of the pitch.
As evidenced by his output with the Gas, he is also very creative and his deliveries from the byline into the box were a particular hallmark of his success in the third-tier.
Harvey Vale could be a better fit at QPR than West Brom
That could mean Loftus Road may prove a better destination for Vale, who, in doing so, would be able to remain local while also having arguably a stronger chance at coming in and claiming an immediate starting berth.
At this moment in time, Marti Cifuentes has been fielding creative kingpin Ilias Chair wide-left due to QPR’s shortage of options in central attacking midfield – where the Moroccan international is most at home, of course – amid Karamoko Dembele’s long-term injury absence.
However, the arrival of Vale could allow Chair to go back into his natural position, which would offer a huge boost for the R’s in their shock bid for top-six contention.
Vale’s long-term potential is clear, but he could well face a difficult battle in displacing the likes of Karlan Grant and Mikey Johnston in the wide-left position within Tony Mowbray’s starting Albion side, as it’s unlikely Vale would be playing deeper in a back four at Championship level.
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