Queens Park Rangers may have suffered relegation last season, but Matt Phillips will not be plying his trade in the Championship next term.
In what was frankly an appalling campaign for the Loftus Road club, they finished bottom of the Premier League having won just eight of their 38 fixtures. Chris Ramsey, who was given a thankless task when he replaced Harry Redknapp on a caretaker basis in February, has now been given the role on a permanent basis, and he is busy plotting for a promotion bid in the coming months.
Ben Gladwin and Massimo Luongo have arrived from Swindon Town, and Jamie Mackie has joined on a free transfer. But there is likely to be more departures than signings, and these exits have begun with a number of players being released whilst Jordon Mutch has joined Crystal Palace for £5.8million and striker Charlie Austin is sure to be the subject of several big-money bids.
It now also looks certain that Phillips has played his last game for Rangers. The 24-year-old, who joined from Blackpool for £5million in 2013, was one of the rare plus-points of last season, scoring three goals and assisting eight more. Although he would be a huge asset to the club in the second-tier they will instead look to make a profit on him, with a value of £7million on his head.
This is a price Palace, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion are all willing to pay for the Scotland international, who is now set to discuss a transfer with all three clubs before making a decision on his future. It is understood the Eagles are currently the favourites to sign Phillips, as a move to Alan Pardew’s Selhurst Park side would allow him to remain in the capital.
