QPR remain hopeful of Sainsbury deal

QPR are hopeful of agreeing a deal to sign Australia centre-back Trent Sainsbury.

Rangers are in negotiations with Chinese club Jiangsu Suning, where Sainsbury is under contract until January.

Sainsbury, 26, is keen to stay in Europe, having ended last season on loan at Swiss club Grasshoppers. He was previously on loan at Inter Milan.

A friend and international team-mate of QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo, Sainsbury featured in the recent World Cup.

Rangers manager Steve McClaren has been keen to bring in two central defenders this summer in light of the departures of out-of-contract duo Nedum Onuoha and Jack Robinson.

German Toni Leistner was recently brought in from Union Berlin, who will visit Loftus Road for a pre-season friendly this Saturday.

Meanwhile, QPR remain keen on strikers Chris Martin and Jordan Hugill.

However, Derby County and Martin, 29, would prefer a permanent deal rather than another loan move away from Pride Park.

Martin, who played under ex-Derby boss McClaren for the Rams, spent last season on loan at Reading and the previous campaign with Fulham.

And Rangers’ only realistic chance of signing Hugill, 26, on loan is if he wants to stay in London, having relocated when he moved to West Ham from Preston in January.

Leeds are among several other clubs chasing Hugill, who has not started a league game for the Hammers.

QPR pursued Hugill when he was at Preston and at one stage believed they were close to signing him for around £1.3m. He eventually moved for more than £8m.