Rangers 'eye' QPR star as Neil Harris makes fresh Millwall transfer claim

Millwall and QPR are now ramping up their preparations for the new season with just weeks to go until the start of the campaign. The Lions defeated Real Murcia in South East Spain on Friday, next in action on Tuesday against Colchester United.

As for the Hoops, they face Reading on Saturday before facing Brighton next weekend. Here we round up all the latest news surrounding both clubs as preparations continue.

Dykes attracts ‘interest’

Rangers are said to be interested in a deal for QPR striker Lyndon Dykes this summer. According to HITC, the Scottish giants are keen on a loan deal for Dykes as they look to add competition at the top end of the pitch.

QPR may be willing to strike a deal as long as they welcome a significant loan fee, with Dykes having joined for around £2million, and he is still only 28 years of age. The forward has scored 33 goals in 153 league outings for the Hoops.

Harris on injuries and depth

Neil Harris believes he has cover in key positions due to having versatile players at his disposal amid questions over depth amid Billy Mitchell’s injury. “We feel if we lose a couple of players in any position we will cope because that goes back to the spirit in the camp and players putting the team before themselves,” Harris has said.

“G (George Honeyman) can play various positions. He has played as a six or an eight quite a bit in pre-season but he is very versatile and able to play as a 10 or wide as well. Ryan Leonard can also play in there, even if it might not be his favoured position any more. We might add in the transfer window in that position – a different sort of player possibly to what we have in the building.

“Billy is not going to be available for Watford but we hope he is not too far behind the rest of the group when we get to that game. If we have to build him in slowly, in terms of his minutes, then so be it.”

Millwall youngster departures

Harris has also spoken about Millwall’s youngsters and the likelihood of them departing on loan before the end of the summer transfer window.

“The reason we brought Alfie (Masey), Niino (Adom Malaki), Kyle (Smith) and Tom (Leahy) is because they have really impressed in pre-season. They’ve done really well,” Harris told NewsAtDen.

“We let Kamarl Grant go to Bromley because we thought it was a really good loan for him. He’s been exceptional pre-season, we’ve seen enough to know his qualities and where we want him to develop. We’ll keep a really close eye on him. The next four lads that have travelled have done really well also. We see development in them. There’s an opportunity for them to impress and every time they’ve had minutes they’ve done well. They’ve earned the right to be here with us.

“If they get an opportunity to get on the pitch, as Alfie did [against Nottingham Forest], it’s, a, because it’s been warranted, they deserve it, and, b, it’s another opportunity to impress. Will we be relying on those four youngsters in the first half of the season? Ideally not because we have to make sure they get the right time to develop. One might stay in the building and be around us to train every day with us and play in the 21s. And two or three might go out for the loans they need in the first half of the season.

“We’re really conscious that it’s not just about making up the numbers in the first half of the season, it’s about developing players also. That’s our job to try to get the balance right, making sure we have strength in depth and there is the opportunity for them to train with the first team, but also that they get out and experience League football if not National League football.”