QPR boss hails ‘cheap deal’ for Diarra

Harry Redknapp says Lassana Diarra is taking a huge pay cut in order to sign for QPR today.

Diarra, 29, played under Rangers boss Redknapp at Portsmouth and yesterday snubbed a late approach from Roma after agreeing a one-year deal at Loftus Road and completing a medical.

The midfielder, who has also played for Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea, has left Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow and is keen to move back to London.

His signing is one of a number of deals organised by Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes ahead of the transfer deadline.

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

“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.’”

Diarra left Pompey to join Real in 2009. He subsequently moved to Russia, spending a year with Anzhi Makhachkala before Lokomotiv signed him in 2013.

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