Beale ‘won’t be distraught’ if QPR don’t sign striker

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QPR boss Mick Beale says there’s enough attacking quality in his squad to cope if the club do not bring in a new striker before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday.

Beale had hoped to sign Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer on loan from his former club, but the England Under-21 international is set to stay put.


Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam is, however, moving to Loftus Road on loan.

Rangers were continuing to look at a number of other possible signings as the deadline approaches, but Beale said he didn’t feel the ones available to him as of Thursday afternoon were better than what he has.

Despite Lyndon Dykes’ woes in front of goal, Rangers are the third highest scorers in the Championship and Beale said there are enough attacking weapons to cope if a new forward doesn’t join.

“It’s not something that is on the agenda right now. It’s something we have discussed and we have looked at the market and one or two have been put to us, but financially what it is going to cost and what it will do (long-term) makes it hard,” he said.

“We’ve spoken to one or two but it comes down to making the starting team stronger. I am still yet to see Tyler Roberts fit and he has come here to compete to be a number 9.

“Tyler needs to have a run where he is fit and he has certainly looked exciting in the moments he has played.”

The Rangers boss also believes the style he wants his players to employ means goals can come from all across the team, with Ilias Chair and Chris Willock already contributing seven goals between them.

“In my system, the number 10s and full-backs are goalscorers and creators,” he said.

“I would like to get more goals out of the midfield and losing Luke Amos has held us back a bit. But I would expect the defenders to chip in more from set-plays.

“The number 9 position is one everyone looks at for reference, but I think if you look around at the big leagues around the world, the goals are being scored by the wide forwards, your Manes and Salah types, and I think we have one or two of those in the building already.

“We have spoke about strikers. It has been on the agenda, but given what’s out there, I don’t think today will be the day we will bring a number 9 in.

“At this moment in time there are not many numbers 9s in the market. There is maybe one that I can think of, but where the finances are, it is not a good or viable option for QPR right now.

“I think after the last two games we’re quite comfortable with what we have got, because this team isn’t struggling to create chances, it’s just can we take them?

“I am not ruling it out, but I won’t be distraught if we don’t bring in a number 9, because I knew the job when I took it on and am working positively with what I have go here in-house.”