News of a new arrival from Portsmouth, international football returning to Loftus Road, further player arrivals over the coming days and weeks and one of the summer’s (hopefully) more ridiculous transfer rumours.

We may as well start with what we all hope to be a load of old nonsense and then improve the quality of the article from there. Today’s Daily Mail is reporting that Hull City are preparing a £1.6m bid for reigning QPR Player of the Year Martin Rowlands. Phil Brown’s tactic for Premier League survival seems to revolve around packing the midfield with Geovanni already signed from Man City and George Boateng and Peter Halmosi also linked but quite apart from that whether Rowlands would be willing to sacrifice all he has at Rangers for what is likely to only be nine months of Premiership football in Hull remains to be seen. It seems unlikely.

Rowlands is a local lad, the club’s longest serving player, a fans’ favourite, the club captain and is now part of a QPR side really going places. He recently regained his place in the Republic of Ireland squad thanks to his form last season. All in all it would seem unlikely for him to discard all of that and move to Hull. It certainly comes as no surprise to see Rowlands laughing the idea off on Sky and Talk Sport before the ink is even dry on the story. Hopefully this will turn out to be the usual Daily Mail nonsense.

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One player definitely making a move this summer is Joe Oastler, an 18 year old centre half who has joined QPR following his release from Portsmouth’s youth academy. Rangers spotted the youngster at last month’s Premier League exit trials and moved quickly to snap him up ahead of as many as 13 other interested parties.

Oastler told The News in Portsmouth: “Obviously I was upset after being released by Pompey, but there was no way I was going to give up. I'd been with them since the age of eight, I'd had a season ticket for eight years, I live two minutes from Fratton Park. I support them and I always will – they are my team. Unfortunately it wasn't to be, that's how football is, but I was determined not to let that stop me.

“There were 60 lads who went to the exit trials in Warwick and I knew I had no choice – I had to perform otherwise I would not have got anywhere. You only have two 40-minute games to impress in as well, but fortunately it worked out and 13 clubs came in for me.

“Glenn Hoddle rang me up personally – I thought it was my mates winding me up. But I wanted a pro contract and QPR were the first club that came in for me. I was upset when I was released from Pompey but I'm definitely happy now. On Monday we had a meeting with Iain Dowie who told us we are all going to get a good opportunity and he's looking forward to working with us.

“At the moment I am with the youth team and reserves but hopefully I'll get my chance. The facilities are decent, we play at Chelsea's old training ground with some lovely pitches. It's only an hour and ten minutes drive from my house as well so I will end up commuting most days. It's now up to me to impress and try to earn a longer deal.”

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International football will return to Loftus Road on Tuesday August 19 as Australia take on South Africa in a friendly game. Rangers have hosted the Socceroos before, along with Jamaica, Nigeria and Denmark, and will again be looking to cash in on the large population from both the featured countries in the local area. Chief Executive of the Australian Football Federation Ben Buckley said: “With many of South Africa’s first team players also based in England and elsewhere in Europe, meeting them in London is an efficient and valuable opportunity for both of us.”

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The rumour mill continues to spin on the incoming side of things as well with Ben Watson apparently still on the cards from Crystal Palace, Ched Evans seemingly still set for a loan deal once he returns from Man City’s pre-season tour of Germany next week and Kaspars Gorkss still close but not close enough to joining from Blackpool. Fiorentina’s Mattias Lepiller could well become the next foreign youngster into Loftus Road on loan this week as well. Watch this space, as they say.

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