The board made a hazardous decision by hiring Marti Cifuentes, an unknown manager in English football who had only previously coached in Spain’s lower levels and the highest tier of the Swedish pyramid, most notably with Hammarby.
Despite being six points above the bottom three and even on points with Sunderland, the Spaniard successfully led Queens Park Rangers out of the relegation zone and into play-off contention.
If Kieran McKenna hadn’t led Ipswich Town to promotion to the Premier League, Cifuentes and Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl would have been contenders for Manager of the Season.
Cifuentes will now be looking to bolster his squad for the following season in order to prevent another dreadful relegation battle. Gazet van Antwerpen reports that QPR are interested in signing Thibaud Verlinden, a former Stoke City winger who presently plays for Beerschot in Belgium.
The publication also claims that 2. Schalke, a Bundesliga club, is interested in signing Verlinden this summer, putting QPR up against it.
Writer’s perspective
With Chris Willock due to leave the club this summer at the end of his contract, signing Verlinden, who has some Championship experience, could be a suitable choice to replace the 26-year-old.
However, the Belgian’s present contract with Beerschot is still valid for another 12 months. According to Transfermarkt, his market value is £600,000, thus Queens Park Rangers may need to pay a sum in this range to secure his services.
chance of beating Schalke to his signature.
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