QPR are one of three sides interested in signing Chelsea’s Ishe Samuel-Smith on loan this summer, according to TeamTalk.
QPR are still without a head coach, as Marti Cifuentes remains on gardening leave and his departure has yet to be officially confirmed. The ongoing uncertainty is hindering preparations for the upcoming season.
With no formal communication from the club, it seems likely that Cifuentes’ exit will only be made official once a new manager is in place. The Hoops are going ahead with plans for the summer window even without a coach in place, and plenty of names have been linked.
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes
Image courtesy of: ANDREW BOYERS/REUTERS.
A new name has been linked with a move to Loftus Road in the form of Chelsea starlet Ishe Samuel-Smith. TeamTalk are reporting that QPR are interested in taking the 19-year-old on loan for this upcoming year.
They face rival interest from Middlesbrough as well as newly-promoted Premier League side Sunderland. Chelsea are actively looking for a loan move for Samuel-Smith, who needs first-team football to continue to develop.
Samuel-Smith joined Chelsea from Everton’s academy back in 2023 for a fee of around £4m. Chelsea hold him in very high esteem and believe he is a future first-team player.
More on Samuel-Smith
Samuel-Smith is a versatile young defender who can play as either a centre-back or a left-back. He is blessed with some excellent physical attributes at such a young age and is very good on the ball.
He has impressed a lot since joining Chelsea in his performances for both the u18s and u21s. Samuel-Smith has also put in some very good performances when playing for England at youth level, where he has represented his country from u16-u19 level.
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QPR stadium Loftus Road
Image courtesy of: ANDREW BOYERS/REUTERS.
He has shown all the signs that he would be ready for the step-up to first-team football. However, plenty of highly-rated young players have tried and failed in recent years.
Very useful pickup for QPR
Defenders are a must at Loftus Road over the summer. So many of their current options will be leaving the club come the start of July.
Within the clubs’ recently released retained list, full-back Kenneth Paal has left the club, whilst fellow defenders Morgan Fox and Jimmy Dunne look likely to go.
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Samuel-Smith’s versatility could make him a very nice option for the Hoops. However, it could be a difficult deal given the rival interest in him.