QPR eye deal for Derby striker Martin

QPR are set to make an approach for Derby County striker Chris Martin.

Martin, 29, previously played for the Rams under Steve McClaren, who is keen to be reunited with him at Loftus Road.

The Suffolk-born Scotland international is under contract at Pride Park until 2020 but has been out of the first-team picture there for some time.

He spent the 2016-17 season in west London, on loan at Fulham, where he scored 10 goals in 21 Championship appearances.

With McClaren having returned to Derby for a second spell as manager, he and Martin wanted to scrap the player’s season-long loan midway through the campaign, but Fulham refused.

Derby sacked McClaren in March last year and Martin remained out of favour at the East Midlands club.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Reading, where he started just four matches.

Martin began his career at Norwich and had spells on loan at Luton, Crystal Palace and Swindon before moving to Derby in 2013.

McClaren, who took over as QPR boss from Ian Holloway last month, is also keen to bring in two experienced central defenders following the departures of Nedum Onuoha and Jack Robinson.

Enquiries have been made about several possible signings as Rangers assess their options.

Alex Pearce, also of Derby, is among them, but McClaren is currently focusing on other potential captures.

Limited by Financial Fair Play restrictions, Rangers are still primarily looking at free transfers and loans despite the expected sale of Alex Smithies to Cardiff City in a deal worth up to £4m.

QPR will bank an initial £3m for the goalkeeper, who has been a target for Cardiff’s former R’s boss Neil Warnock since the Welsh side clinched promotion to the Premier League.

As of Wednesday afternoon there was no sign of any concrete interest from clubs in other QPR players.