QPR star labelled 'amazing' by Cifuentes issues transfer message after summer Saudi rumours

QPR striker Rayan Kolli has confronted online speculation that he is pushing for a Loftus Road exit this season amid a struggle for minutes under new head coach Julien Stephan.

The 20-year-old was a breakthrough star under Marti Cifuentes last season but has now not featured in a Championship matchday squad for the R’s since the 2-1 defeat to Millwall in mid October.

Kolli was an unused substitute in that game and has been afforded just 182 minutes in the league so far this season. Last year, he scored four goals across 20 Championship outings, as well as a strike in the FA Cup against Leicester City.

QPR star confronts transfer rumours

The forward received his first call up to the Algeria A’ squad in October having impressed in the national set-up at under-20 level. Speculation online about the player’s future has been rife and Kolli has now taken to social media platform Instagram to speak out.

In a story uploaded on Monday, he wrote: “There has been a lot of speculation about what has been going on recently regarding myself and I just wanted to clarify a few things.

“Firstly, I’d like to thank the people that have supported me during the challenging periods in my career so far. There has been posts and articles going around saying that I have cut all ties with Algeria because I decided to archive all my posts on Instagram. This is not true. Because of these posts/articles, I have received numerous amounts of online abuse towards myself and my family over something that has nothing to do with them or what is really happening.

“For my QPR family, I do not want to leave. I turned down opportunities elsewhere to stay at the club I have been at for almost all my life, because I want to do something special here. Playing for the first team was my dream as a kid because it was all we were told growing up. Every time I put the top on, I understand the weight it carries and that’s something I do not take for granted.

“I just want to let you know that I am doing everything in my power to get myself back on that pitch to keep proving to you all week in, week out, that I am capable of playing at this level and beyond. As we all know, the manager has to make decisions and whether I agree or not, I have to respect it and keep working until the chance that I have been working for arrives.”

Ligue 1 and Saudi Arabian clubs linked with Rayan Kolli interest

While Kolli did not namecheck any potential suitors this summer, Foot Mercato claimed that both Ligue 1 and Saudi Arabian clubs were interested in the player. Former QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes had hailed the player’s ‘amazing impact’ last season.

Explaining why Kolli, among other younger stars, are not currently getting minutes, Stephan said: “When all the players are available, I have some choices.

“Kieran Morgan came on against Southampton in the last game and Michy [Frey] was not in the 20 players for the game, and the game before it was Kader Dembele [left out].

“So, I have some choices, and you have strikers like Burrell who score a lot, and Kone who scored a lot before. And I wanted to give the opportunity to Daniel Bennie to come into the 20 players because I considered that he deserved it when I saw him in training.”

In other news, Ex Chelsea, QPR and West Ham academy coach linked with Premier League job amid anger from club board.