QPR boss addresses transfer situation surrounding Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ryan Manning being left out for win over Forest

BY NICK KITUNO

Mark Warburton has explained why Ryan Manning was left out of the squad for Queens Park Rangers’ opening day win over Nottingham Forest.

The left-back, who joined the club in 2015, is in contract talks with the club as his current deal expires next summer.

He was sat in the stands at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium as he watched Rangers win 2-0 against Forest.
Bright Osayi-Samuel is also in talks over a new deal at Rangers but started the game before being substituted in added time.

Warburton said: “There’s contract talks at different stages, simple as that. Everyone doesn’t come in at the same time, at the same stage and have the same negotiation. I want to make sure that players are focused on the game and there’s nothing derogatory or negative about Ryan, who trains exceptionally well and is a great lad.

“I have a great relationship with him, I talk to him all the time, but as I say that’s just football. There’s no doubting the quality of Ryan Manning, of course.”

Asked what will happen if he does not sign, he added: “What happens will happen, and when it comes about we will obviously let you know. I’m not going to talk about any individual player, there’s nothing derogatory about the player. Many clubs have seen many players walk away at the end of a contract with no value for the football club.

“What we have to do, what the board and the owners and Les [Ferdinand, director of football] are making sure is we seek value all the way through. It’s about players committing to the club.

“I’m not doubting the commitment of any player, I’m not saying any players are linked with moves away. There’s lots of media speculation, none of it true, so as I say I hope very much hope all such talks reach a suitable conclusion.”

Osayi-Samuel has featured for QPR since a move to Belgian outfit Club Brugge did not come to fruition. Warburton also said talks are at “different stages” with the winger, as it is with Manning, but went on to praise his conduct.

Warburton said: “He was frustrating in the changing room [after the Forest game]. I’m not divulging or breaking confidence here, he was frustrated he didn’t impact the game enough. I just said to him: ‘You can’t be a match-winner every week’. He’s got so much ability, so much talent and he’s a young lad dealing with all this media speculation.

“He’s going to so many clubs, AC Milan are next I guess! He’s a 21, 22-year-old dealing with this. It’s different club [every day], now apparently Rangers have apparently come in and now someone else has come in. He has to sit there, and his family have to deal with it as well, and it’s part and parcel of being an elite player. It’s part and parcel of having your profile raised in the game, but he’s dealing with it really well.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD