Transfer news: Harry Redknapp hopeful that QPR will complete signing of Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker by the end of this week
Former Spurs boss wants to link up with the 32-year-old once again as he attempts to lead the west London club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking
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Your support makes all the difference.Harry Redknapp is hoping to complete a deal that will see Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker join Queens Park Rangers before the end of the week.
Redknapp worked with the central midfielder during his time at White Hart Lane, and the Evening Standard are reporting that Parker has been told he is no longer needed at the b and is free to find a new one.
West Ham – who Parker was signed from back in 2011 – are rivalling QPR for his signature, and Spurs are willing to let him go for around £3.5m. However, his current salary of £70,000-a-week is believed to have been an issue for both clubs when trying to agree a deal.
Redknapp did admit that he feared QPR would be priced out of a move having been relegated at the end of last season, although they have offloaded names such as Djibril Cisse, Loic Remy and Christopher Samba to lessen their hefty wage bill.
Negotiations between the two parties stepped up though and Redknapp now hopes that the former Charlton player will be plying his trade at Loftus Road in the next few days.
Parker’s Spurs’ career suffered a major blow last season when he suffered an Achilles injury, ruling him out of action for four months which cost him his place in Andre Villas-Boas’ side.
The summer signing of Brazilian international Paulinho, and impending capture of Etienne Capoue, appear to have pushed Parker even further down the pecking order, and in a season which culminates in a World Cup, the 32-year-old will want to be playing regular football in order to maximise his chances of being included in Roy Hogdson’s England squad come next summer.
Redknapp is also hopeful that the club will complete the signing of striker Duvan Zapata, despite the move dependent on a work permit hearing.
The 22-year-old does not meet the conditions for a visa because he is yet to be capped by his native Colombia, but QPR are hopeful they can complete the £6.4m move for the Estudiantes striker under the ‘special talent’ ruling.
Even if the deal goes through, none of Rangers’ strikers will be leaving.
Redknapp said: “This is a tough league; Saturday, midweek, Saturday, midweek — I still need four strikers. [With] Bobby Zamora’s injury record and Andy Johnson’s you still need four strikers so we can rotate.”
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