'Great news' - QPR confirm deal for Celtic and Crystal Palace linked star

QPR have put an end to the ongoing contract standoff with talented youngster Sinclair Armstrong by triggering an extension in his current deal which will keep the player at Loftus Road past the summer.

The 20-year-old's current deal, which he signed in 2022, was set to expire at the end of the campaign. The club had long been keen to keep the player, with news of a five-year contract being offered in October, but supporters had been nervously awaiting confirmation.

Manchester City, Celtic and Crystal Palace have all been credited with interest in the forward's services over the past 12 months. Armstrong has won the Young Player of the Year award two seasons in a row at QPR.

The Championship outfit has not confirmed how long the extension is, but when announcing his two-year deal in 2022, reported that 'there is also the option of a further year, weighted in the club’s favour' - which could point towards the extension being just for 12 months.

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.”

Armstrong joined QPR from Shamrock Rovers in 2020 after making his senior debut at just 15 years old. The striker made 39 Championship appearances this season, scoring three goals and picking up three assists.

Two of Armstrong's most important goals came since the turn of the calendar year, netting against relegation rivals Millwall in January and bagging the winner against Leicester City in March. He also scored against Premier League opposition Bournemouth in the FA Cup in January.

Reacting to news of the contract extension online, QPR supporters labelled the update as 'great news' and 'that's good to hear'. Another wrote: "Breakout season coming for this fella?"

Speaking after his goal against Bournemouth in January, QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes said: “He did really well in the first half. He showed his extreme capacity in the physical aspect…his pace, his capacity in the duels.

“He had very good moments and I’m pleased for him because he is a young player that wants to develop. He is taking steps in the weeks that I have been here, understanding when to use his pace and how to use the space.

“I was joking with him when I arrived that he had a lot of offsides and with his pace he doesn’t need to get into offside positions, he can drop two metres and still recover this advantage. When we can use his pace, we are a different team. If teams want to press high that gives us space to attack in behind and if they want to wait we can get much higher up the pitch.”