Queens Park Rangers are now keen on signing a young EFL striker who scored 12 league goals last season, as they close in on appointing Julien Stephan as their new manager, according to a recent report.
Julien Stephan agrees to become QPR manager
The West Londoners have been on the lookout for a new manager since taking the decision to place Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave back in April. The 42-year-old joined the Rs back in October 2023 and took charge of 83 matches, but the decision to place Cifuentes on gardening leave came as it was reported he had spoken to West Brom about their managerial vacancy.
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The Rovers are among the clubs leading the chase to sign a forward, who is now expected to leave his club this summer.
The Rs have had to be patient in their search for a new boss, but it looks as if now they are closing in on an appointment. Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett has reported that Stephan has agreed to become the new QPR manager, putting pen to paper shortly.
The Frenchman, just like Cifuentes, has never managed in the Championship or England prior to this move. He has spent his managerial career working in France, mostly at Stade Rennais, where he lasted just under a year and left the position back in November.
The 44-year-old has worked in Rennes on several different occasions from their youth set-up to reserves to first-team, and he will now be hoping he can take what he has done in France to England, as QPR hope to be fighting at the right end of the table.
QPR chase Malik Mothersille
As the Rs close in on Stephan’s appointment, they could also be close to bringing in the first player under his reign. That is because, according to Football League World, QPR are interested in signing Malik Mothersille from Peterborough United.
The 21-year-old, who scored 12 goals in League One during the 2024/25 season, has emerged on the radar of the Hoops as well as newly promoted side Charlton Athletic. The report doesn’t state how much Mothersille could cost or how much Posh would want, but given he has just one year remaining on his contract, it could be a low-cost deal for the Rs.
Mothersille is not only a number nine; the forward can also operate on both the right and left sides of attack, making him a versatile attacker. As well as his 12 goals in League One, the young striker also netted a further four goals in the EFL Trophy, as Peterborough were crowned champions.
His campaign in League One also earned him recognition on the international stage, as he collected his first senior cap for Jamaica last season, in the final of the Unity Cup against Nigeria.
QPR do already have the likes of Alfie Loyd, Charlie Kelman, Michael Frey and Rayan Kolli as forward options, but if they are to be near the top end of the Championship, then Stephan is going to want more prolific scorers, and Mothersille may just be the answer.
