QPR transfer blow but Leeds United and West Ham boosted in £8.5m 'Rolls-Royce' pursuit

QPR supporters had another incoming to celebrate on Monday, days after the January transfer window closed, as the club made the most of its ability to sign free agents after the deadline.

Lucas Andersen has reunited with Marti Cifuentes to bolster the Rs midfielder as they look to kick on with their survival fight in the back-end of the season.

QPR feature alongside Norwich City and Leeds United in Tuesday's Championship round-up.

QPR and Norwich City sent transfer message

QPR and Norwich City have been sent a message by Segunda Division side Sporting Gijon after a reported January transfer pursuit of midfielder Jonathan Varane.

The 22-year-old, who is the younger brother of Manchester United star Raphael Varane, had been linked with a switch to the Championship last month having fallen out of favour at his Spanish club. Ultimately, a deal for Varane couldn't be reached with QPR bringing in Lucas Andersen and Isaac Hayden to bolster their options in the centre of the park instead.

Newcastle United man Hayden is only on loan and QPR could still look to recruit this summer but Sporting Gjon boss Miguel Angel Ramirez has said that Varane is 'happy' at the club despite recent struggles.

He told La Nueva Espana (via Pink Un): “He is happy to stay and committed to staying here. Before expressing (publicly) what I said about him not being prepared to be at a higher level, I had that talk with him previously. We have spoken in recent days. He is happy here, calm, serene.

“He knows the change in his role in the squad, in terms of the competitive level in his position, and also in terms of our game model. That affects him directly, he understands it, he is working hard. But when he has come on, he did well.”

Leeds United and West Ham on alert for £8.5m defender

Leeds United could have just been given the green light to try and sign Genk defender Mark McKenzie this summer after links with a move for the player last month.

The 24-year-old moved to the Belgian side from Philadelphia Union in January 2021 and has attracted attention from Brighton, West Ham and Everton, as well as the Whites with the press touting the defender as a 'Rolls-Royce'. It had been suggested that a fee of £8.5 million would be enough to prize McKenzie away from Genk.

The player's contract at the club is set to expire in June 2025 but Genk sporting director Dimitri De Conde has shared his desire not to have any stars running their contracts down. As a result, if McKenzie does not sign a new deal, a summer exit could be given the green light.

De Conde told HBVL: “They are holding off on that [signing new deals]. We still have time, but if they continue, a solution will have to be found in the summer. We will not let anyone enter their final year."