Harry Redknapp believes that in Jordon Mutch, Queens Park Rangers have signed a player who has the potential to reach the top of English football.
Having secured an instant return to the Premier League by virtue of winning the Championship playoff final back in May, it was expected that Redknapp would be one of the busiest managers in the division this summer. However, he has made at best steady progress in the market, signing defenders Rio Ferdinand on a free transfer and Steven Caulker for £8.5million.
The latter, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, arrives at Loftus Road from Cardiff City, and he will now be joined at the London club by a team-mate of his previous club. Redknapp has on Tuesday clinched the £6million signing of talented midfield player Mutch, 22, who impressed in the top-flight for the Bluebirds last term and is now being tipped to flourish further.
“Jordon’s a fine young player, with a big, big future,” said Redknapp. “He’s already shown what he can do at this level with Cardiff last season with a decent goals return – and this move will provide him with a great platform to take his game on to the next level. He wants to learn and improve his game. He’s a good pro with a great attitude and this is a big opportunity for him at QPR.”
It is believed QPR have paid a fee in the region of £6million for Mutch, who has signed a four-year contract with the capital club. The former England Under-21 international, who won his only cap at this level three years ago, scored seven times in the Premier League last season as well as providing five assists, and he is naturally thrilled to be given another opportunity in the top-flight.
“I’m really delighted to be here, back in the Premier League,” he said. “I don’t see a better place for me than QPR at the moment. The club is heading in the right direction and I’m really excited about the season ahead. I thought I had a good first season in the Premier League last year with Cardiff, so I was delighted when QPR came in for me and offered a route back to the top flight. I’m really happy to be here and hopefully we can do well this season.”
Having initially starting his career on the youth books at Derby County, Mutch moved to Birmingham City as a 15-year-old in 2007. He progressed to the first-team at the St Andrews club, via loan spells at Hereford United, Doncaster Rovers and Watford, before he left the Blues for Cardiff in a deal worth a reported £1million in 2012.
