Kranjcar wants permanent move to QPR
Niko Kranjcar wants to join QPR on a permanent basis.
The Croatian playmaker was outstanding against Middlesbrough on his full debut following a recent season-long loan move from Dynamo Kiev.
And Kranjcar, 29, is keen to stay at Rangers beyond the end of the campaign.
“If they would want me, yes,” he said.
“Honestly though, I’m not thinking about it now. I’m thinking about Saturday and improving on my first game.
“Then hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to make the decision in January. I’m delighted to be back in England and back in London.
“You can sense the togetherness in the squad. It really is a great place to be and I’m enjoying my football.”
Kranjcar, who played under QPR boss Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth and Tottenham, says he is still only “80% fit” after suffering niggling injuries and being out of favour in Ukraine.
He endured an unhappy 13-month spell in Kiev after leaving Spurs and had made it clear he wanted to return to England.
He explained: “It wasn’t working out the way that I wanted in Ukraine.
“The last year was difficult. The mentality was different and it takes time to get used to.
“Maybe I can say I didn’t adapt to that, so I was happy when I got the chance to come here and come back to familiar surroundings.
“I talked to the gaffer [Redknapp] who I have played for before, and for me it was important to get game time.
“Here, knowing the coaching staff and people I worked with before, I have the best chance.”
Redknapp had no hesitation in taking the player to Loftus Road when the chance arose and believes Kranjcar’s versatility gives Rangers an extra dimension.
Kranjcar caused Middlesbrough all sorts of problems drifting in from the left and Redknapp is also likely to deploy him through the middle at some stage.
“He does believe in me – he was the first manager to give me experience,” said Kranjcar.
“He took me to Spurs as well and wanted me here. He’s someone who believes in me and still likes the style of football I play. He gives me the freedom to play football the way I play.
“I love playing off the left because it gives me the freedom to drift inside. That makes it harder for defenders to pick you up than when you are stuck in the middle.”
He added: “I was delighted with my home debut – the team performance. It was a good start.
“You want to start on the front foot and I think I did quite well. Obviously that’s important, coming into the side wanting to impress the manager, your team-mates and the fans.
“It has been a great start but that makes you want to work harder and try to improve your game every week.
“The manager, the coaches and fans know what I am capable of when I am at my best. Hopefully I will achieve that playing with QPR in the Championship and then the Premier League.”
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