QPR look to deal Sheffield United transfer blow as Charlton Athletic linked with 'influential' free agent

QPR have released their retained list following the 2024/25 campaign and the details shared by the club suggest a potential transfer blow for Championship rivals Sheffield United.

Only one player is confirmed to be leaving Loftus Road as a free agent on the expiry of their contract this summer. That is full-back Kenneth Paal, who will embark on a new adventure away from west London after three years at Loftus Road.

Conor Clark, Samuel Manufor, Harry Murphy and Casey Shann will leave the QPR Development Squad and the club remains in discussions with eight first team players. One of those is Player of the Year Jimmy Dunne.

QPR look to deal Sheffield United transfer blow

The defensive mainstay has been key to Marti Cifuentes’ work in London but has been heavily linked with a move to Sheffield United. QPR were reported to have fought off Blades interest in their star man last January but transfer specialist Alan Nixon recently claimed that Sheffield United remain interested in the defender.

Chris Wilder’s side almost achieved promotion to the Premier League but were beaten by Sunderland in the Championship play-off final. Should they have achieved top flight status, links with Dunne may have quietened but instead they have come back strong.

It was expected that Dunne could resist putting pen to paper on a new QPR deal in order to pursue that move but the club has confirmed that they are in discussions with the player over extending his stay. That’s a boost to the R’s and a potential blow to any Blades transfer interest.

The other QPR players in negotiations over an extension are Lucas Andersen, Jack Colback, Morgan Fox, Joel Halliday, Noah McCann, Kieran Petrie and Nathan Shepperd. Speaking about Dunne back in March 2024 after he scored a wonder winner against Birmingham City, Cifuentes said: "He deserves everything. I’m very happy for him. He’s a quality, quality human being.

"He will enjoy this moment, but when things weren’t going his way and there were games he was not starting he was always first in training, supporting his team-mates and happy when the team won.

"Perhaps people tend to underrate him. In the Championship he has always played, with different managers, and there is a reason why. Sometimes players can think we take them out (of the team) because we don’t trust them. It’s not because of that, it’s just because there is a lot of competition."

Charlton Athletic rival Rangers for free agent

Meanwhile, Charlton Athletic are beginning to be linked with transfer moves for players to help prepare the club for a return to the Championship. Nathan Jones was determined to get his business in the window done early last year and could opt for a similar route to success again this year.

Ibrox News claims that the Addicks are a ‘major option’ for Dundee star Josh Mulligan. The 22-year-old has impressed in the Scottish Premiership and is also linked with a move to Glasgow as Rangers monitor his availability.

The midfielder is out of contract this summer and could join a new club as a free agent. The outlet also claims that Salford City could be an option for the player, who has spent his whole career thus far with Dundee.

Former Dundee boss Tony Docherty was asked about the player’s future in April and said: “Josh is another of our academy graduates that has done really well. If these boys show the level of performance consistently, then they’re obviously going to attract suitors.

"This season, I gave him the No.8 jersey and I challenged him. His performance levels have improved time and time again and he’s become a really influential player in the squad. Last year, he maybe never played as many games as he wanted.

“But sometimes you need to prove you’re good enough to do that. He’s done that this year, he’s taken his form on. Josh is in really good form and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if there’s attention because his performances would merit that.”

In other news, QPR star leaves Loftus Road as club ignores Marti Cifuentes warning.