'Bid accepted' - QPR approve £2.5m transfer for 'fantastic' ex Crystal Palace and Celtic target

QPR have accepted two £2.5 million bids for striker Sinclair Armstrong this week as the London club green light personal negotiations with Championship rivals Bristol City and Stoke City.

That's according to the Irish Independent with confirmation of a reported transfer fee coming after it had emerged this week that the Potters and Robins were competing for the 21-year-old's signature. Armstong had a contract extension triggered by the London club this summer.

QPR had not confirmed how long that extension was but it had previously been confirmed that the player's two-year deal in 2022 came with the option of a further 12 months. However, the R's now appear ready to cash in on the rising star before he is able to leave on a free transfer at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Armstrong will now make the decision between working with Liam Manning at Bristol City or Steven Schumacher at Stoke City. The former placed 11th in the Championship last season with the latter finishing in 17th.

Armstrong joined QPR from Shamrock Rovers in 2020 and has gone on to make 64 appearances for the club, scoring four goals. The player is thought to have a big future thanks to moments of brilliance when on the pitch - Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Celtic had also been linked with moves for the forward over the past 12 months.

Shamrock Rovers are set to benefit from any sale of Armstrong with a 25% sell-on clause in the deal agreed in 2020. That could see the Irish side pick up a windfall of £625,000.

Speaking about the player in March, as his contract situation became precarious, QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes labelled Armstrong an 'incredibly valuable' part of the squad thanks to his power and pace.

When triggering Armstrong's recent contract extension, CEO Christian Nourry said: “Sinclair works incredibly hard and is determined to be the best he can be. He has a fantastic attitude and his desire on the pitch is matched by a real humbleness off it.”