QPR’s Hamalainen could be heading back to Scotland

Niko Hamalainen could be on his way out of QPR – and back to Scotland.

The American, who turns 25 in March, was signed in 2016 and given a four-year contract by Rangers in 2020.

He has started 20 league matches for the club and successive managers have decided not to include him in their first-team plans.

Hamalainen, a Finland international, made a surprise loan move to Brazilian outfit Botafogo last year but did not impress.

Previous loan spells in his native United States with Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy did not go particularly well either and he also spent time on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge in 2015 but made just one league appearance.

However, a season-long loan at Kilmarnock in 2019-2020 was more successful. He made 32 appearances and managed to impress in the Scottish top flight.

He could return north of the border before the transfer window closes next week.

A number of Scottish clubs, including Kilmarnock, have been made aware of his availability and there has been some interest in signing him.

George Thomas was expected to leave QPR during this transfer window and might well do so, but his situation has been somewhat complicated by the fact that he is currently injured.

Thomas has been unable to establish himself as a first-team regular since arriving in 2020 and his contract expires at the end of the season.

He will be allowed to move on if a club comes in for him in the coming days, or possibly as a free agent.

QPR have so far received no approaches for any of their first-team players other than a bid from Millwall for Lyndon Dykes, which was rejected. The current expectation is that the striker will stay.

Rangers would like to loan out Conor Masterson and will consider a loan move for Sinclair Armstrong.

Meanwhile, keeper Murphy Mahoney is joining Walsall for the rest of the season.