QPR hold talks with 'hurting' Championship manager as Hull City could steal Loftus Road frontrunner

QPR have reportedly ‘held talks’ with former Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup over replacing Marti Cifuentes at Loftus Road.

The R’s have not yet officially parted ways with the Catalan head coach but placed their boss on ‘gardening leave’ ahead of the final Championship match of the season against Sunderland. That came amid reports of talks with West Brom over the vacancy at The Hawthorns and a breakdown in relationship between chief executive Christian Nourry and Cifuentes.

QPR are not the only Championship club in the market for a new manager this summer. Cardiff City, Norwich City, West Brom, Watford, Hull City and soon to be relegated Southampton are also looking for an appointment.

Several of the same names have been linked with multiple of those posts, including at Loftus Road. Former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is a regular frontrunner, as too is Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason.

QPR open talks with recently sacked Championship manager over Loftus Road job

The Telegraph has now reported that QPR have held talks with former Norwich City boss Thorup. The 36-year-old was sacked by the Canaries following six defeats in eight at Carrow Road.

That report centres on Norwich City looking to interview former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders but does provide a hint as to the direction QPR may be looking in. Thorup struggled with injuries during his time with the club and thought he would be given three years to achieve Norwich City’s Premier League ambitions before his sacking after 11 months.

Speaking after Thorup was dismissed, which came after a 5-3 defeat to Portsmouth, former club captain Iwan Roberts told BBC Radio Norfolk: "That's a sackable offence - conceding five goals against a team that had scored seven in their previous 12 games. I think it's the first time Norwich have conceded five goals in the Championship at home.

"I'm surprised that the decision has been made with two games to go... but any manager with those kind of numbers going against him will be looking over his shoulder.

"He's a very, very young man - he's at the start of his managerial career. He'll be hurting after this."

Hull City linked with head coach who had been QPR frontrunner

Tom Cleverley was sacked by Watford earlier this month and had since become a strong contender to take over at Loftus Road. However, the R’s now look set to face competition for the former midfielder from Hull City.

The Tigers, who survived relegation on the final day of the Championship season, sacked Ruben Selles after just over six months at the MKM Stadium. That is the club’s third managerial change in 12 months.

Cleverley has emerged as an early frontrunner to take over at Hull City with the 35-year-old clearly in demand since being made available for work. Former Swansea City manager Luke Williams and ex West Brom man Tony Mowbray are also touted to be contenders at this early stage.

In other news, QPR and Stoke City in £5m transfer battle as Millwall confirm contract breakthrough.