With the transfer window opening in two days QPR are being linked with numerous targets by the media.

Top of the wanted list at the moment is former Palace and Tottenham winger Wayne Routledge. He is currently on loan at Cardiff from Aston Villa but is a long term transfer target of QPR. Rangers tried to bag the former Palace winger on loan when he was at Spurs, and permanently when he went to Aston Villa and will now try for a third time this transfer window.

Routledge has impressed while on loan in South Wales and Cardiff are keen to open talks with the winger themselves but several agencies are reporting that he prefers a move back to London with a fee of £300,000 being quoted. That would be a steal for a player who, although never a real hit in the Premier League except for one season with Crystal Palace, is a quality player at this level and better than anything Rangers currently have wide on the right.

Rangers’ other top target this window is Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson however Middlesborough now seem to be leading the chase for him. Watson, who is out of contract in the summer but eligible for a tribunal fee as he is under 23, has been a long term target of QPR and refused a new deal at Selhurst Park in the summer because he favoured a move to Loftus Road. However with Boro about to lose midfielder Gary O’Neil they have arrived in the race late and Watson will probably favour the chance to play Premiership football.

Palace boss Neil Warnock told The Independent: “The main focus will be to shift a few off the wage bill and perhaps generate some funds. One player we won't be flogging cheap though is Ben Watson. Because of his age and the fact we developed him, if he leaves the fee is decided by a tribunal, and we'll be looking for a fee which reflects his ability, his Premier League experience, and the fact he's played for England Under-21 and nearly 200 senior games. If anyone thinks they can offer peanuts and pick him up, they're wrong.”

The first signing made this January could, bizarrely, be one the manager does not like. Full back Gary Borrowdale is yet to make an appearance after signing on loan from Coventry however a fee of around £700,000 has already been agreed before Paulo Sousa arrived and therefore QPR look set to spend a considerable sum of money on a player they no longer want. You really could not make it up. In better news striker Heidar Helguson, barring any last minute injury problems, should sign permanently from Bolton for about half a million.

Other rumoured signings include Coventry midfielder Jay Tabb and Plymouth striker Rory Fallon. Tabb is a former Brentford midfielder who has been in good form for Chris Coleman’s men this season while Fallon impressed against the R’s at Home Park earlier in December. With a record of 13 goals from 72 appearances (35 from the bench) at Plymouth since moving from Swansea the target man would inspire few QPR fans and he looks an unlikely target to me despite his good performance against us. Leyton Orient midfielder Jason Demetriou has also been linked, with a fee of £750,000 being mentioned. The 20 year old scored against QPR at Loftus Road in the League Cup 18 months ago.

A man who is already at Loftus Road but will be like a new signing when he eventually returns is Rowan Vine. The striker broke his leg on the training ground in April and has suffered numerous set backs since but finally received some good news from his surgeon on Christmas Eve.

Physio Paul Hunter told the official website: “The second operation has gone very well. The surgeon is very happy with the outcome and the fracture itself is showing great signs of recovery. We've had the green light to increase the intensity of Rowan's training program, which is a massive boost for everyone connected to the club.

"We've got another X-Ray scheduled in for six weeks time, and we are confident that will be the final time he has to visit the surgeon. Rowan is very relieved, as we all are, and we can really kick on from here in terms of his rehabilitation.”

Finally possibly heading out of Loftus Road is top scorer Dexter Blackstock. The 11 goal hit man was linked with a £1.2m move to Wolves earlier in the season and the papers now have him tipped to join Fulham for £2m. Blackstock has defied his critics with a good goal scoring season so far but with the greatest respect it is hard to see him cutting it in the Premiership just yet. Time may tell.

Photo: Action Images

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