Mark Warburton wants youngsters on loan from Premier League clubs now his first three signings as QPR boss are in the bag.
Warburton last week tied up the signings of goalkeeper Liam Kelly and left-back Lee Wallace, who both played under him at Glasgow Rangers, and on Tuesday completed the signing of out-of-contract Brentford defender Yoann Barbet.
But a major part of the new manager’s brief is to use his contacts to bring talented young players to Loftus Road on loan.
Other Championship clubs, including Brentford when Warburton was sporting director and later manager at Griffin Park, have had success in bringing in quality youngsters from top-flight clubs.
QPR have been less effective in that respect and want Warburton to change that.
“It works – players are assets and it (making loan signings) works for both clubs,” Warburton said.
“You can have a player that comes from a Premier League club that plays 30-40 games for you and goes back a better asset.
“It sounds harsh but the players are assets – they’re a balance-sheet item.
“The player can go back to their Premier club (and stay there) as a better asset, in which case job’s done, everyone’s happy and you get another one the following season.
“Or, you get the player who comes to you (permanently) and the Premier League club has a sell-on and financially it works for all parties.”
Competition for loan signings is fierce, but one of the reasons Warburton was appointed was because it was felt his track record would help the club persuade top sides to send their players to QPR on loan.
“As long as we can get that trust, respect and relationships there, clubs can see that their young talent is coming here, learning and going back as better players, then we’re in a good position,” Warburton explained.
“You can have X number of clubs who are all after the same players. We have to show that QPR is a good place to come.”
This post was last modified on 20/06/2019