Midfielder Diarra’s move to QPR is off

Lassana Diarra’s proposed move to QPR has collapsed. 

The former Real Madrid midfielder, 29, completed a medical at Rangers and agreed a one-year contract following an acrimonious departure from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow.

But the deal remained unconfirmed amid some confusion over whether Diarra is a free agent and could therefore be signed without a transfer fee being paid.

Diarra, who played under Rangers boss Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth after spells at Chelsea and Arsenal, is keen to move back to London.

He snubbed a late approach from Roma and remained confident his switch to Loftus Road would be rubber-stamped.

But with the transfer deadline approaching, it became clear the deal was in serious trouble and was not going to go through in time.

Redknapp was convinced the move would be completed and insisted Diarra would take a huge pay cut in order to join the R’s.

“It was a cheap deal for the club – a great deal – and the chairman’s done a fantastic job,” Redknapp said earlier.

“Diarra just wanted to come and play here and, without wanting to blow my own trumpet, I think he wanted to come back and play for me.

“He enjoyed his time with me at Portsmouth and I enjoyed my time with him so he really wanted to come here.

“There were other clubs in for him but he said to me ‘It’s not the money, I want to play here.’”

Redknapp is keen to sign two midfielders before the transfer window closes.

Enquiries have been made about a host of players and an offer has been made to Redknapp’s former club Spurs for Brazil international Sandro.

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