Jimmy Dunne deserves to be rewarded for his second-half of the season form, as his current contract at Loftus Road expires this summer.
Marti Cifuentes’ appointment as manager of Queens Park Rangers has resulted in a remarkable turnaround in the club’s fortunes within six months.
When the former Hammarby boss took over from Gareth Ainsworth at the end of October, the R’s were already six points behind those outside the bottom three.
Rangers went into the final day without fear of relegation after 31 league games, with the 41-year-old working wonders to turn things around in West London and steer his team to safety.
One key to Cifuentes’ success has been the emergence of Jimmy Dunne, who has proven to be a revelation in his new right-back role for the Hoops, with a number of key performances crucial to their resurgence.
Jimmy Dunne back in the good books after sensation second-half of the season for Queens Park Rangers
Dunne, a former Fleetwood Town player, appeared to be on the verge of leaving the club during the early stages of the Championship season.
On the eve of Halloween, former Wycombe Wanderers manager Ainsworth fired the 26-year-old after only four appearances. Rangers had a record of only eight points from 14 games at the time.
Rangers now have one of the division’s most solid rearguards after being moved to the right side of the defensive line, making them difficult to break down and strong enough to withstand pressure from the best the EFL has to offer.
In the penultimate week of the Championship season, Leeds United suffered a 4-0 defeat at Loftus Road, with only five shots on target in the 90 minutes.
Not many teams will have limited Daniel Farke’s side to such few opportunities this season, and Dunne, along with the dependable Steve Cook and Jake Clarke-Salter, has proven his worth as a member of that steadfast backline.
Dunne’s 4.65 clearances per 90 in league matches this season have significantly contributed to his team’s improvement, with only Cook topping that metric among the R’s regulars.
| QPR contracts set to expire this summer | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Dunne | |||||
| Chris Willock | |||||
| Sinclair Armstrong | |||||
| Osman Kakay | |||||
| Elijah Dixon-Bonner | |||||
| Asmir Begovic | |||||
| Jordan Archer | |||||
| Albert Adomah | |||||
| Aaron Drewe | |||||
| Joe Walsh | |||||
| As of May 3rd, 2024, Source: Transfermarkt | |||||
In this campaign, the defender has shown his eye for the spectacular, with a sensational left-footed volley securing all three points for his side in a basement battle with Birmingham City on Good Friday. This helped his side continue their battle to stay in the division.
Jimmy Dunne’s Queens Park Rangers contract information
Dunne’s contract at Loftus Road expires this summer, leaving him to decide whether to stay or leave.
The R’s have the option to extend his current contract for another year, but no agreement has been reached and time is running out before the deal expires.
Rangers would be foolish to let their defender leave this summer after such a strong showing for his new boss over the last six months, with his performances highlighting what has been so great about the Hoops since Cifuentes’ arrival.
Dunne’s passion and all-or-nothing approach have earned him a lot of praise following his early season stutter, and his professional demeanor towards his career should not be overlooked.
QPR are a team that appears to be progressing under their current manager, and if they keep Dunne locked down, they will have a reliable option to cover both the right side of defence and the middle if necessary, and he deserves to be rewarded for such a strong year to date.
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