Mauro Zarate has completed a loan move to Queens Park Rangers, where he will remain until the end of the 2014-15 season.
The Argentine forward joined West Ham United in the summer, and was handed the number 10 shirt by Sam Allardyce. Zarate, who had a previous spell in England with Birmingham City back in the 2007-08 campaign, made a bright start to life at Upton Park when he scored on his debut when he opened his account with the first goal in a 3-1 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
However, the 27-year-old has gone on to start just another four times in the Premier League, with a further two outings coming from the bench. There had been strong suggestions that the forward would leave the Hammers when the transfer window reopened, and it has now been confirmed that he will spend the rest of the season across the capital at Loftus Road.
“I am happy – I need this,” Zarate told the official club website. “I need to play and Queens Park Rangers have given me this chance to show what I can do. The Premier League is the best in the world at this moment. Does my style suit the Premier League? Maybe. We will see. I will try to do different things with the ball, some skills to make the difference for the team.”
Zarate could now make his debut for QPR on Saturday afternoon, when Harry Redknapp’s side travel to Lancashire to face Burnley. If the visitors can leave Turf Moor with maximum points, it would perhaps be their most important win of the campaign to date as it would place them on 22 points and five ahead of Sean Dyche’s team in the battle to secure their top-flight status.
Could Zarate play a key part in QPR’s bid to avoid relegation this season? Let us know what you think by joining in with the discussion below.
