'Deal Agreed': QPR beat Swansea City and Leicester City to 'incredible' striker with another to follow

QPR are set to beat Leicester City and Swansea City to the signing of in-demand Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone having agreed a deal with the League One outfit.

The 22-year-old was named the League One Player of the Season last term having bagged 18 goals in the division. Wycombe Wanderers hailed his ‘incredible’ impact when announcing the award. Kone was also named Young Player of the Season ahead of Louie Barry and Tyler Bindon.

It’s a head turning coup for QPR with Football League World claiming that rivals Leicester City, managed by former R’s boss Marti Cifuentes, and Swansea City were wanting to sign the player.

QPR set to beat Leicester City and Swansea City to transfer

An update from transfer specialist Pete O’Rourke on Monday read: “QPR have agreed a fee with Wycombe for striker Richard Kone.”

Kone wasn’t named in the Wycombe Wanderers matchday squad to take on Bradford City earlier this month but did then appear off the bench for a cameo against Stockport County last weekend as the Chairboys fell to back-to-back defeats to begin their campaign.

Kone has less than a year left on his deal at Adams Park and Wycombe Wanderers were hoping to secure £5 million for his services. However, it has since been claimed that the asking price had been reduced to £3 million.

The forward is set to spearhead the QPR attack and provide serious competition for Michael Frey and Zan Celar, the latter who has been linked with a move away this summer. The west London club have also signed Rumarn Burrell from Burton Albion this summer.

QPR also set to snap up FC Schalke striker on free transfer

QPR have also been heavily linked with a move for FC Schalke star Pape Meissa Ba. It had been claimed that a €500,000 transfer for the former Grenoble man had been agreed but that the move had hit a stumbling block due to paperwork.

Even with Kone coming through the door, Sky reporter Patrick Berger has confirmed that the Championship outfit are also still set to bring Ba to Loftus Road. That means two imminent new arrivals up front for Stephan.

A post on social media platform X read: “Papa Meïssa Ba is set to join QPR – on a FREE transfer! Medical checks caused some issues, as reported first by WAZ, but Rangers still want the player. Just final details to sort. Schalke will no longer receive the €500k previously agreed. QPR renegotiated, so Ba joins for free – with possible bonuses in low six-figure range for #S04.”

In other news, Eddie Howe to hand ex QPR and West Ham man Newcastle United lifeline.