‘I’m an optimistic person’ – Cifuentes hopeful of QPR transfer activity ahead of January deadline

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes has not given up hope of adding to his squad before the January transfer window closes next week.

The west London club have not yet signed a player in January, with the only transfer activity being the loan departures of midfielders Andre Dozzell and Stephen Duke-McKenna.

The impact of the Championship’s Profit and Sustainability rules has limited the business Rangers can do this month, as recently confirmed by chief executive Christian Nourry.

“I don’t have much to comment on that,” said Cifuentes when asked if it was likely that QPR become more active before the deadline on Wednesday.

“I am aware that the club is trying to work hard to make sure we can get some improvements in the squad, knowing that it is a challenging situation.

“I know that there is a plan, and a lot of work is being done behind the scenes.

“I’ve been asked [about players] but involved in a different way than at other clubs. My role is to develop the players that I have here and that’s where my focus is.

“Obviously the club has been asking me the areas that I think that we can improve and from there it is about how the club deals with this.

“We are working as a club in the market. I will not speculate about what is going to happen, but the club is working hard to provide the best options we can get.

“I’m a very optimistic person, always a hopeful person. I am sure that the club is working hard to make me happy.

“From the beginning it was clear the situation was very difficult but the club is working hard to find a solution.”

Cifuentes confirmed that his only injury absentee for Sunday’s Championship fixture against Huddersfield is Rayan Kolli, with Paul Smyth having overcome the muscular issue he picked up in the warm-up ahead of last weekend’s win against Millwall.

PICTURE: ROB AVIS