QPR making January move for defender – ‘Contacts in progress’ and concrete talks can start soon
The Rs endured a dismal start to the season but a run of seven games without defeat has them in a much stronger position as 2025 nears.
They sit 14th in the Championship table and will be out to continue their rise against Swansea City on Boxing Day.
Despite this, there’s no hiding there are areas of Marti Cifuentes’ squad that can be improved. Now, rumours of a new name on the radar at Loftus Road have emerged.
According to a report from reputable Italian publication TuttoMercatoWeb, QPR have begun discussions over a potential deal for 25-year-old centre-back Marco Imperiale, who plays in Serie B for Carrarase.
Imperiale is held in high regard in his native despite spending much of his career playing in the lower levels of Italian football. He has other admirers beyond the Rs but the move to open discussions ahead of January has the Championship side in pole position at this early stage.
QPR target Imperiale made his senior breakthrough at Catanzaro and earned himself a move to the youth setup at Empoli, but he only played for their first-team once and gained much of his minutes on loan.
Eventually, he signed for Carranase on a temporary deal, then joining permanently in 2021.
He’s played a prevalent role for them ever since and despite the current campaign being just his first in Serie B, Imperiale has caught the eye. His performances as captain for the newly-promoted club has put him on the radars of bigger clubs, the Rs included.
QPR have some solid defenders on the books and when all are available, there’s some good depth too.
However, there have been a number of injuries with star man Steve Cook potentially suffering the latest. Jake Clarke-Salter, who has also had injury problems, is alongside Morgan Fox, Liam Morrison and Jimmy Dunne as options at centre-back too.
As such, with injuries in mind, perhaps a move for someone like Imperiale would be a shrewd one this winter. Time will tell if the link comes to anything concrete though.
