Cologne might not take up option to sign Leistner from QPR

Cologne have indicated to QPR that they do not currently intend to take up their option to sign Toni Leistner on a permanent deal.

West London Sport revealed soon after Mark Warburton took over last summer that Leistner was surplus to requirements under the new manager and that the club were also looking to sell Massimo Luongo.

Leistner was subsequently dropped and stripped of the captaincy by Warburton, with Grant Hall taking over as skipper.

While Luongo left for Sheffield Wednesday, attempts to offload Leistner were unsuccessful – and he ended up regaining his place in the side.

But he remained very much out of favour with Warburton and in January he returned to his native Germany to join Cologne after West London Sport had revealed the Bundesliga club had made an approach for him.

The deal was with a view to a permanent move.

However, as things stand it appears Cologne will not be retaining the centre-back – although they have indicated that could change if they offload players.

QPR have nevertheless made other German clubs aware of Leistner’s potential availability.

Rangers are keen for him to move on and the player himself has no desire to return.

Leistner, who turns 30 next month, has a year remaining on his contract at Loftus Road.

He arrived on a free transfer from Union Berlin in the summer of 2018 and has made 65 league appearances for the R’s.

Meanwhile, QPR are interested in signing Luke Amos from Tottenham on a permanent deal.