New QPR boss Mark Hughes keen to waste no time in January transfer window
Queens Park Rangers shocked the football community on Sunday after it was revealed that the club would be sacking Neil Warnock.
The news came as a big surprise after Warnock had led the West London side to the Premier League for the first time in 15 years, even when taking the side’s run of poor form into account.
However, the Hoops wasted no time in mourning as they were quick to install Mark Hughes as manager of the club and confirmed their decision on Tuesday morning.
Supporters of the club will be overjoyed that the Welshman was so quickly instated as manager and will be even happier to learn that club owner Tony Fernandes is handing him a £20m transfer kitty to revive the club’s season.
Hughes has shown his ambition straight away too, tabling a £7m offer for Blackburn Rovers stalwart, Christopher Samba, after spending less than 24 hours at the helm of the side.
It’s understood that Fernandes and Warnock had a falling out based on the transfer prospects of the club, which the former felt needed more ambition.
The Malaysian businessman has shown just that in agreeing to finance the move for Samba, who is reportedly being tracked by clubs such as Tottenham, Liverpool and Stoke City.
Hughes holds a trump card over these other candidates however, in that he has worked extensively with Samba during his time at Ewood Park, and the Congolese international may pefer linking back up with his old boss.
It’s unlikely that Hughes will want to stop there either as the former Fulham manager will most likely make full use of the £20m funding as he looks to build a QPR side capable of Premier League survival.
Should Hughes fail in his pursuit of Samba, it’s understood that Chelsea’s transfer-listed Alex will be an alternative.
One thing for certain is that Loftus Road could well see a heap of new faces by the time February rolls around.
