Queens Park Rangers given Pape Meissa Ba date as timeframe placed on Schalke deal

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While Queens Park Rangers’ pursuit of Schalke striker Pape Meissa Ba has dragged on for longer than the Championship outfit would have liked, it appears that the finish line is now in sight.

Charlie Kelman’s Charlton departure leaves QPR a forward short a week-and-a-half out from their Championship opener against Preston North End on August 9th.

Whether letting League One’s top scorer leave for a fee rising to £5 million proves to be more madness or masterstroke remains to be seen. There were certainly some who felt QPR letting Kelman go was an error after his stunning season on loan at Leyton Orient.

And should Queens Park Rangers complete the signing of Pape Meissa Ba, the 28-year-old Senegalese is likely to find himself pitted against Kelman next term in the minds of many Loftus Road matchgoers.

While Kelman was prolific for Leyton Orient – one of only two players in the EFL to break the 20-goal barrier – Ba hit the target only twice after joining Schalke in January.

Unsurprisingly, Kicker report that the fallen giants of German football will not stand in his way as QPR close in on a new number nine.

QPR close to sealing Pape Meissa Ba deal with Schalke

Kicker, in an update provided on Tuesday morning, report that Pape Meissa Ba ‘has no future’ at the Veltins Arena. After struggling to find the net during his first few months in Germany’s second tier, Ba has also failed to win over new Schalke boss Miron Muslic following the manager’s arrival from Plymouth Argyle.

Patience has most certainly been a virtue at Loftus Road.

QPR agreed terms on a three-year contract with Ba five days ago, according to Sky Deutschland. An anticipated £400,000 deal is yet to be completed, although all the signs suggest that pen and paper will meet in the very near future.

“[Ba’s move] from Schalke to QPR is only a matter of time,” reporter Patrick Berger writes on his official X page, suggesting that the deal is currently being held up by red tape.

“The player is currently in France, waiting for his visa documents and the green light to travel to the UK.”

Kicker add that, presuming Ba passes his medical checks in West London, he could be officially unveiled as a Queens Park Rangers player before Schalke kick off the new 2.Bundesliga campaign against Hertha Berlin on Friday.

The late-blooming, Dakar-born Ba was a fairly prolific goalscorer in France before making that ill-fated switch to Gelsenkirchen at the beginning of 2025. He netted 11 times in 20 matches during the first half of the campaign at Grenoble, ending the season with 13 across all competitions and two countries.

Rumarn Burrell thinks he is perfect for Julian Stephan at Queens Park Rangers

Now under the stewardship of former Rennes coach Julian Stephan, QPR have signed Arnold Mbengue from Reading, Kwame Poku from Peterborough United, and Rumarn Burrell from Burton Albion. Three of the standout talents from England’s third tier.

When Ba arrives, he will likely compete with Burrell for gametime in Stephan’s attack.

And while the QPR faithful have reservations about ex-Burton ace Burrell – especially given that Kelman outscored him pretty emphatically in the very same division – there is a confidence behind the scenes that The R’s are building an attack well-suited to Stephan’s gameplan.

“I can stretch teams,” Burrell tells the club’s official website. “I’m a relentless presser and I feel like with the head coach and his style of play, it really suits me.

“He plays very explosive, attacking football, he likes to press and that suits me to a tee. I feel like this is definitely the best place for me.

“I can’t wait to get in front of all the fans at Loftus Road.”