Rangers manager Michael Beale is set for a summer swoop on his former club to land a cut-price deal for winger Chris Willock.
And Record Sport understands the 25-year-old QPR attacker has made it clear he is eager to follow his former boss to Glasgow – four months after Beale Willock is out of contract at the end of the season and, although QPR have an option to trigger a new 12 month deal, Beale hopes to land the Londoner either for free or on a bargain basement fee.
The Rangers boss reportedly returned to his old club just last week on a scouting mission to watch a 1-1 draw with Norwich and although Willock was on the bench for that match, it’s understood he is one of Beale’s priority targets as he plans to oversee a major squad rebuild. Willock left the Emirates for Benfica in 2017 as a 19-year-old tipped for the top by legendary Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. But, despite signing a five year deal in Lisbon, he failed to make a top team breakthrough before returning to England two years later on loan deals with West Brom and Huddersfield.
Former Rangers manager Mark Warburton then shelled out £750,000 to sign Willock on a permanent deal with QPR in 2020 and it’s understood the player was keen to be reunited with former Arsenal coach Neil Banfield - who is now a key man in Beale’s backroom team at Auchenhowie.
Beale inherited Willock when he took over from Warburton last summer before heading north with Banfield after the sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst. But, during his short time in charge of the Championship club, he enthused over the player’s potential. Last September, after watching Willock star in a 2-0 win over Millwall, Beale said: “He is an excellent player - look at his CV. We’re fortunate to have him at QPR. I think he can play at the next level, he just has to make little adjustments.”
Beale is determined to beef up his squad during the close season and - with the contracts of key creative talent Ryan Kent and first choice striker Alfredo Morelos about to expire - he has been tracking a number of attacking options.
A source close to QPR confirmed last night the player is already aware of Beale’s interest and added: “With a player this talent available at a cut down rate - or maybe even for free - it’s a no brainer for Michael. Chris would absolutely jump at the chance and the boy would light up Ibrox.”
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