QPR must sign five players relegated from Championship including ‘brilliant’ full-back and Jimmy Dunne replacement

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Queens Park Rangers are preparing for next season without Marti Cifuentes, but the club’s recruitment team may well be tempted to look at those relegated from the Championship.

The summer ahead at Loftus Road is set to be a busy period of business for Queens Park Rangers following their turbulent end to the season.

Head coach Marti Cifuentes was placed on gardening leave at QPR, amid his links with becoming the new West Brom manager, and was absent from the dugout for QPR’s final day victory against Sunderland.

EFL Analysis exclusively revealed this week that former Norwich City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup is assessing his options amid links to the QPR job, with the R’s appreciative of Thorup’s footballing philosophy in their search for Cifuentes’ successor.

QPR’s next appointment will be crucial, as they look to improve on their 15th-placed finish this season and closing that gap on the play-off places next term.

With the summer transfer window looming, we have picked out five stellar options from the teams dropping out of the Championship that the QPR recruitment team must explore.

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Five players QPR must look at this summer after Championship relegations

QPR fans’ player of the season Jimmy Dunne looks destined to depart after his rock-solid campaign in the R’s defence, with his contract coming to an end.

Ronnie Edwards will return to recently relegated Southampton following the end of his loan stint, and teenage winger Min-hyeok Yang will return to parent club Spurs after his loan season at QPR.

With departures for Dunne and Edwards ahead, there is one relegated defender in mind QPR should be desperate to sign, but they will face stern competition for his signature.

Maksym Talovierov

Ukrainian international Maksym Talovierov was one of the shining lights in Plymouth Argyle’s ill-fated relegation back to League One.

The 24-year-old defender made 11 Championship appearances since his £1.7million January switch from LASK, and scored in the FA Cup against Manchester City following his colossal display against Liverpool.

His physical prowess and reading of the game are complemented by his ability on the ball, making Talovierov a suitable acquisition for several second tier clubs. The towering stopper would be a more than capable replacement for departing Dunne.

Perry Ng

Perry Ng suffered relegation with bottom side Cardiff City this season despite a solid individual showing in 2024/25.

Singapore international Ng made 35 Championship appearances in the Bluebirds’ defence, notching two goal contributions, and his versatility and experience would fill the holes of Dunne and Edwards suitably in the QPR backline.

29-year-old Ng has made 183 appearances in five seasons at Cardiff, and with his current Cardiff deal expiring next summer, the Bluebirds could cash in on the versatile defender this summer and QPR should be looking to be the beneficiaries.

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Bali Mumba

Sunderland academy product Bali Mumba is another defender QPR should be tracking this summer, with full-back Harrison Ashby set to return to his parent club Newcastle United after his loan spell.

23-year-old Mumba would be a stellar replacement for Ashby, with his versatility and prowess in all three thirds of the pitch making him the perfect modern-day full-back, one with far too much quality and potential to be playing in the third tier.

Via The Pink Un, Argyle boss Miron Muslic has said of Mumba: “I think Bali also did it very, very well as a game changer, against Watford. He’s used to playing this position. He played, I think, most of the games as a left wing-back. He was brilliant.”

Mumba made 46 appearances in all competitions for Argyle this season, registering three assists, and is capable of playing comfortably in both full-back roles.

Alex Robertson

Away from the backline, QPR are also in need of reinforcements further up the field, and one they could poach from relegated Cardiff is playmaker Alex Robertson.

Robertson notched three goals and three assists in 35 Championship appearances for the Bluebirds this season, following his move from Manchester City, and the 22-year-old would suit the R’s squad that is brimming with attacking talent.

Australian Robertson has ample potential to develop his career at Loftus Road, although may be difficult to prise away from the Bluebirds with him under contract until the summer of 2028. However, his qualities on the ball would suit wonderfully alongside the likes of Ilias Chair and Karamoko Dembele.

Jordan Clark

Luton Town midfielder Jordan Clark is another name QPR should be tracking after the 31-year-old notched six goals and six assists in 40 league games this season in spite of his side’s demotion.

Englishman Clark has spent the last five seasons at Kenilworth Road, but enjoyed his most productive campaign in front of goal this term under Matt Bloomfield, reaching double figures for combined goal contributions.

Clark’s chance creation and goal contributions would fit like a glove within QPR’s midfield ranks, and his wealth of experience would be another benefit as the R’s look to revitalise their top-table aspirations next season.