QPR dealt £1.7m transfer setback as four first team stars quit Millwall

QPR are not expecting to receive the £1.7 million transfer fee for defender Hevertton Santos this summer with Portuguese outfit Vitória de Guimarães not thought to be keen on using their loan-to-buy option.

The 24-year-old only arrived at Loftus Road last summer from Portuguese side Estrela da Amadora but was sent on loan to Portugal in January after nine outings for the R’s. At the time, it was claimed that Vitória de Guimarães held the option to make that deal permanent for €2 million.

Hevertton made eight appearances on loan but struggled for minutes and often settled for a place on the bench. O Jogo on Monday claimed that Vitória de Guimarães would not be using their loan-to-buy clause and that the player will return to QPR.

QPR sent transfer update from Portugal

A decision remains to be made over the player’s future in west London and could depend on who arrives to replace Marti Cifuentes in the hotseat, with the Catalan coach still on ‘gardening leave’.

QPR have seen full-back Harrison Ashby return to Newcastle United at the end of his loan spell and Jimmy Dunne is expected to leave as a free agent this summer. QPR also have promising Development Squad star Esquerdinha who can play in that position and was tipped for big things when signing for the club in February,

Meanwhile, on the other side of London, Millwall have confirmed the club’s retained list following the end of the 2024/25 season. The Lions narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs on the final day of the season.

Club captain Shaun Hutchinson will leave The Den after nine years. The only other club the 34-year-old has played first team football for is Motherwell but he had seen fewer and fewer minutes at Millwall, making just nine Championship appearances last year.

Millwall striker set to leave club after five months

He will be joined by Murray Wallace, Duncan Watmore and Aaron Connolly in leaving the club on the expiry of their contracts next month. The latter only arrived at Millwall in January, signing a short-term contract at The Den. A club statement added: “The club would like to extend its gratitude to all four for the service they have given to Millwall and wish them well in their future careers.”

There are more players who could leave the club as a free agent. George Saville, George Honeyman, Danny McNamara, Liam Roberts and George Evans are all in talks over new contract deals. Billy Mitchell, Joe Bryan and West Harding have had their deals extended thanks to options held by the club.

The conclusion of loan spells was also confirmed. Josh Coburn, Zak Sturge, Ryan Wintle and Calum Scanlon have all returned to their parent clubs with Adam Mayor, Kamarl Grant and Kevin Nisbet coming back to Millwall from their time away.

In other news, QPR star centre of transfer battle as Watford set to sign ex Chelsea youngster.