QPR's bid to sign Darren Ambrose from Crystal Palace appears to be dead in the water after the player pledged his future to the Eagles.
Ambrose was Palace's top scorer last season, bagging 20 goals from midfield in all competitions, and Rangers had hoped to take advantage of the uncertain financial situation at Selhurst Park, and Ambrose's impending contract expiry, by picking him up for £750,000.
Initially the deal looked likely to succeed when Palace administrator Brendan Guilfoyle said the sale was needed to pay the club's wage bill through the summer but the deal was put on hold when the CPFC 2010 consortium completed their takeover earlier this summer.
Despite provisionally agreeing a deal with Rangers earlier this summer Ambrose seems set to now stay in South London, according to Palace's new manager George Burley.
Burley told the Croydon Advertiser: "We've had some good news from Darren. He's told me that he wants to stay and we are going to begin talks about getting him signed up on a new long-term contract."
Nevertheless assistant manager Mick Jones remains confident that Rangers will add quality to their squad before the start of the season.
He told the club’s official website: "They've gone quite well so far with the people we've brought in. Obviously we can't stop there. Negotiations are going on at the moment with Neil. I think about two weeks before the season starts things kick into place and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't make anymore signings until then, but you can rest assured Neil's trying hard."
One of those new additions could well be Bristol City right back Bradley Orr.
Rangers have often been linked with Orr, a former Newcastle trainee who has clocked up more than 250 appearances for City and made the Championship team of the year in 2008/09, but the Western Mail is reporting that the R's are about to firm up that interest with a bid of £500,000 that could rise.
Orr would be a very solid signing for the right side of our defence where we have lacked a genuine right full back for a number of years and look short again if Peter Ramage is indeed to be considered as a centre half this year.
And another regular rumoured transfer target, Jobi MacAnuff, is also said to be interesting the R's again with a £1.5m bid being prepared - although this story is from the Daily Mail which last week reported we would be signing Steve Simonsen, despite him already signing for Sheffield United to replace the keeper we have actually signed this summer Paddy Kenny.
Serbian left back Dusko Tosic is unlikely to be returning to Rangers though. Despite his successful loan spell at the end of last season Rangers have moved for Clint Hill instead and Tosic is also set to snub interest from leeds United to sign for Red Star Belgrade, according to Sky Sports.
Hill himself has been saying his farewells to Palace after completing his switch to Loftus Road last week.
Hill told the local Guardian in south London: "There was obviously some emotion leaving Palace because of last season and what we went through. You couldn't help but feel part of something. I had some great times at Palace. When the gaffer came and said 'listen, do you fancy coming to work with me again?' it was a massive relief to me that it was finally tied up and sorted. It's good to have a bit of security. I wasn't the only one, there were a few of us in limbo with no one really to speak to regarding a new contract.
“We just didn't know what was happening - it was a scary place three or four weeks ago. It was just a one-off situation that happened and I'm so grateful it has been sorted out now and all our efforts from last season weren't in vain. I'll walk out at Selhurst Park with a smile on my face knowing that the club have done well and survived. They've got a manager, a chairman and it looks like it is going in the right direction, which is really good to see."
In former QPR news Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is hoping Wayne Routledge can finally produce some decent form in the Premiership following promotion from the Championship.
Hughton told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "It will be great to see Wayne back in the Premier League – he came in last January and he’s a player who has got Premier League experience for us. He’s at an age now where he’s matured and he’s a very fit lad. It’s a lovely challenge for Wayne to get stuck into next season.
“I know Wayne from Tottenham and he’s a lad who really enjoys pre-season because he’s such a good athlete. He’s been at a few clubs now and he’s got the maturity now. He’s approaching the next few years of his career when he will be in his prime. I hope that he can continue that good start for us.”
Elsewhere in the Championship two of the division’s bigger names are in talks with Celtic – Joe Ledley is out of contract at Cardiff and Hull City need Jimmy Bullard off their wage bill. Ledley would command a tribunal fee if he moved to another English club, but can join Celtic for nothing posing further problems for cash strapped Cardiff who are under a transfer embargo over an unpaid tax bill. Preston have signed Wayne Brown from Leicester on a free and Craig Morgan for £400,000 from Peterborough but have allowed Eddie Nolan to sign for Scunthorpe United and Neill Collins to move to Leeds. James Harper is training with Hull City hoping to earn a move to the KC Stadium.