Rio Ferdinandâs move to QPR is in doubt, with chairman Tony Fernandes reluctant to sanction the signing. Manager Harry Redknapp wants at least one centre-back this summer is looking to bring in the former Manchester United defender. A deal was agreed in principle but Fernandes has misgivings as he is keen for Rangers to sign younger players. Offers have been made for Cardiff Cityâs Steven Caulker, 22, and 20-year-old Nottingham Forest prospect Jamaal Lascelles. Aware that many fans believe relegation the season before last was caused largely by former Rangers manager Mark Hughesâ transfer dealings, Fernandes is keen to convince them that lessons have been learned. Harry Redknapp, QPR manager Redknapp has long been keen to sign Ferdinand. Signing Ferdinand, 35, would seemingly fly in the face of that message, but Redknapp is convinced the ex-England star would make a valuable contribution following his departure from United. Redknapp has been at odds with the Râs hierarchy on previous occasions. A year ago they blocked his proposed signing of former England left-back Wayne Bridge and last season he had to convince them to sanction a deal for Yossi Benayoun. Fernandes has also claimed that he expressed misgivings about some of the signings made during the ill-fated Hughes era. Currently working as a pundit for the BBC at the World Cup in Brazil, Ferdinand made 455 appearances for United during a 12-year spell at Old Trafford during which he won six Premier League titles, two League Cups and the Champions League. Steven Caulker is wanted by QPR Steven Caulker is wanted by Rangers, as is Jamaal Lascelles. Ferdinand, cousin of Rangers legend Les Ferdinand and whose brother Anton also had a spell at Loftus Road, won 81 England caps and played in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. He played Redknapp at West Ham prior to an £18m move to Leeds in 2000. Redknapp planned to sign him this summer if Rangers won promotion back to the top flight and their play-off triumph duly paved the way for a deal to be discussed. Ferdinand, who was on QPRâs books as a schoolboy, was troubled by injuries towards the end of his time at United but last month Redknapp told West London Sport he believed he still had plenty to offer. âHe would be a fantastic free transfer for somebody,â Redknapp said. âHeâs a fantastic player and still has a lot to offer. Heâs had his injuries and itâs whether he stays fit. If he fitâs heâs a top, top player.â
Good on Tony for standing firm, and if Harry walks because of this it shows a lack of desire to grow the club, and I'd rather he go elsewhere.
Although I don't think Harry is so good in terms of matchday managing, I don't think he's like that. He knows he's there to do a job. It's not unreasonable that an owner disagrees with some of your proposed signings. Tony has blocked some of his requests before and has allowed some. I think Harry might respect Tony's wishes. But we shall see, I guess.
Oh I've known it for a while but couldn't prove it, I suspect you may have thought the same, now a local journo has put it out there. It also explains the players we've been linked too, half are good young players wanted by TF, the other half are ageing has been wanted by Redknapp.
If Rio was the only one, I would not care...as I feel, he is older, he is injury prone, but he is the right sort. Him only...Ok....3-4 others, it becomes a problem..... In the same way I was happy with Lampard.... We need 4-5 signings. 3-4 need to be hungry players 1-2 need to be old pros...who know what to do
Pretty much the same in the Mirror """" Jul 02, 2014 20:00 By Darren Lewis Defender has agreed a deal involving a huge drop from his Man United wages with manager Redknapp but now a row with club chiefs is brewing 1 Share Share Tweet +1 Email Getty Deal or no deal: Redknapp and Ferdinand have an agreement but QPR may block his move Rio Ferdinand is at the centre of a row between manager Harry Redknapp and club chiefs at Queens Park Rangers who want to veto his signing. Redknapp has persuaded the 35-year-old free agent to take a huge drop in the £200,000-a-week salary he picked up at Manchester United last season to move to Loftus Road. But Mirror Sport understands that even at the proposed reduced wage Ferdinand, who turns 36 in November, is considered too old by the QPR board. The deal was agreed a fortnight ago with former England defender Ferdinand, in Brazil as a World Cup pundit for the BBC, ready to turn down lucrative media offers to prolong his playing career. But confirmation has been delayed as the west London club try to reach a resolution. After being relegated from the Premier League 14 months ago, Rangers were insistent that they would never again make the kind of wage offers to players that saw them saddled with a bigger wage bill than Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid while playing in the second tier. That remains the case. While the Hoops' owner, Tony Fernandes, and the board allowed managers Mark Hughes and later Redknapp free reign with the club’s cash, there is now a far more stringest recruitment policy. Rangers have this week allowed eight players - Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Ravel Morrison, Tom Carroll, Niko Kranjcar, Will Keane, Kevin Doyle, Guilherme Dellatorre and Modibo Maiga - to go back to their parent clubs following the expiration of their loan deals. Another three - defender Aaron Hughes, midfielder Stephane Mbia and striker Andrew Johnson - have left the club with their contracts up. A further five - Rob Green, Armand Traore, Alejandro Faurlin, Gary O’Neil and Play-Off Final goal-scoring hero Bobby Zamora - are in discussions over new deals, but Mirror Sport understands they will not stay unless they agree terms which are right for the club. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...ands-qpr-transfer-faces-3801331#ixzz36L9kudWm Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook """"""
Agree with that. One or two older experienced heads can be a good thing, if they stay fit and still have the desire. Frank McLintock showed that. Problem is we have no idea if Rio is that person.
The trouble is we already have two 35 yo CBs so while signing Rio for a year may not be bad for a club, its clearly terrible for us. It sends out all the wrong messages too. Next along will be Parker, Defoe, Dawson etc when we need caulker, Rhodes, bryson type signings
I think we are already well covered in the old f*rts department, especially if OBZ stays another year which I hope he does. And at CB we have both Clint and Dunne already, so I can't see we have a need for Rio, or any more "old pros who know what to do"
Tony's no mug; he's not going to spunk his money up the wall on the same old garbage Kia Joorabchian was trying to flog to him for a season. So far Bridge/Baird have been vetoed haven't they? They were both complete flops at Reading, so touch wood the owner's have a good track record with this kind of thing so far.
I don't think "young talent & old pros" is the correct formulae for success. What we really mean is "talent outside of the PL & players with PL experience". It's perfectly possible for players with bags of PL experience to be the right side of 30 (Vlaar, Williams), rather than being genuinely ancient (Lampard, Rio). Players 33+ are never a necessity in any squad. You might happen to have one or two, who've served their time with the club, and continue to be an asset because of their wisdom/calming influence. But intentionally seeking out 36 year olds is madness? We should be aiming for some experienced 26-29 yr olds with 60+ PL caps, who'll dovetail nicely with the inexperienced exuberance of the Championship's best talent. Why on earth we'd shell-out for players in their twilight years over the above two options, is beyond me. We're a good club with good owners, lets be proud of ourselves and aim to recruit the best options, rather than the "hey...he might still do a job?" guys.
Exactly my view as well Grifter, with Bridge and Baird, Fernandes has shown how he wants things played out. Look, I think Ferdinand could do an excellent job for us for a season however that's on the proviso we sign a Caulker/ Laschalles as well to learn from him, also that his wage isn't some ridiculous insulting figure.
