Skip to content
Championship transfer news as QPR release club captain, Middlesbrough want Newcastle veteran
Queens Park Rangers have released club captain Stefan Johansen by mutual consent.
The influential midfielder, aged 32, impressed initially on loan from Fulham before signing in 2021 and playing a key role over the subsequent two seasons – but didn’t fit into the style of play after Gareth Ainsworth took charge. It was only last month that Ainsworth had brushed off suggestions of a row with Johansen but he has now left with 12 months remaining on his contract. There have been murmurs of a potential return to Norway.
He said in a statement released on the QPR website: “There is no bad blood at all, I have had conversations with the club and I think it’s time to move on. It suits all parties that I am leaving now. I have had a great time but do wish that I could have achieved what I came here to do, which was promotion to the Premier League.
“From the moment Gareth walked through the door we got on really well. We respect each other and have a strong relationship. He is a great guy and I leave the club with him as a good friend.”
READ MORE: Stoke City reignite transfer interest in Aston Villa winger
READ MORE: Summer homework for Matija Sarkic if Alex Neil brings him back to Stoke City
Middlesbrough are being linked with a move for Newcastle United keeper Karl Darlow. Michael Carrick needs to find a replacement for Man City loanee Zack Steffen and Darlow, who spent time on loan at Hull last season, fits the bill.
GazetteLive write: “While Hull have top-six aspirations of their own next season, Boro are considered a more likely promotion contender having made the play-offs last term. ”
Bristol City are yet to receive any formal offers for £25m-rated 19-year-old midfielder Alex Scott, who has been linked with Bournemouth, Tottenham and Wolves.
Chief executive Phil Alexander told BristolLive: “I mention it because he is so high-profile and there is a degree of noise but we have not had any formal offer, as it stands. We’ll deal with it as it comes and there won’t be any knee-jerk reactions.”
Tenacious Derby County youth graduate Jason Knight has been mentioned as a potential Scott replacement.
Derby reporter Leigh Curtis wouldn’t be surprised if the Championship came calling, saying: “I think Derby fans can see the predicament the club is in. He’s got 12 months left on his contract plus he’s got his international ambitions too. Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny has made some comments about needing to play at a higher level so it’s a bit like Krystian Bielik’s situation in many ways.
“Most of the reaction I’ve read is that if Derby get a decent fee and it can be reinvested then he will go with their best wishes I suspect.”
He added: “It was a hard season to judge him really as he started off at right-back where he did such a good job under Liam Rosenior but was then moved into midfield by Paul Warne where he fitted his high-press philosophy perfectly. I think a lot of people would say his engine is his greatest strength, but he can certainly play and I think that gets forgotten sometimes.
When he played in midfield his role was to press, but he showed good quality on the ball at times. He just needs to improve his goals and assists, that’s the only thing really left for him to crack. He’s certainly a fearsome competitor.
Sunderland have signed striker Hemir from Benfica B on a five-year contract.
“Though the deal was initially reported as a free transfer in the Portugese media, that is understood not to be the case and it is in fact another seven-figure fee that the club have committed to this summer,” reports the Sunderland Echo. “If there has been one understandable criticism of Sunderland’s otherwise hugely successful transfer policy, it has been that they have persistently been left short up front.”
At the other end of the country, Southampton on braced for transfer interest in 18-year-old striker Dom Ballard, who scored 13 times in 16 games in Premier League 2 last season. The Daily Echo reports interest in England and Germany.
West Brom are keen to offload out-of-favour striker Karlan Grant this summer, according to reports in Birmingham.
The 25-year-old is not seen as part of Carlos Corberan’s plans but has three years left on his contract. Swansea were prepared to make him their highest paid player in January but Albion ultimately pulled out of any deal.
Millwall are reportedly interested in Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis, the 25-year-old who was used in more attacking midfield than his preferred holding role as last season went on.
Rotherham are still waiting to find out if key forward Chiefo Ogbene will sign a new contract amid interest from Norwich City, Luton, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town and Plymouth Argyle, says the Rotherham Advertiser.
Manager Matt Taylor said: “I don’t think Chieo is in any rush to sign because judging by the press or the rumour mill — and you can take that with a pinch of salt — he has a lot of interest and a lot of suitors. I am sure he is assessing all his options and we hope we can remain one of those options for as long as we possibly can, but we are realistic in terms of Chieo’s situation.
“This hasn’t happened overnight. He has been in the last year of his contract for the best part of ten or 11 months. I think we’ve all known the situation coming. We knew about it leading into January, let alone leading into the end of the season, so there are no surprises in relation to that. We will keep talking to him and see where it takes us.”
What do you think? Have your say in the comments section
READ NEXT:
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72334579/1486090665.0.jpg "Friday’s Everton News: Moshiri rumours, Branthwaite speaks out, Clarke linked")
Leave a Reply