Football Insider reports that Leeds United is preparing a late bid for Ilias Chair, a midfielder for Queens Park Rangers, in an attempt to replace Georginio Rutter.
Chair had a strong season for his present employers last year, scoring seven goals and dishing up eight assists in 44 appearances across all competitions. Elland Road has expressed interest in this form as the Whites seek to bolster their lineup following a large-scale departure of top players.
Daniel Farke has designated the 26-year-old as his main goal, and as he enters the last 12 months of his contract at Loftus Road, the Yorkshire club is expected to test QPR’s resolve with a bid. Given his contractual circumstances, it is understood that Leeds may sign Chair for a reduced fee, and the Morocco international may be eager to depart.
Chair underwent development through the Lierse academy, and following a fruitful trial period, switched to QPR in 2017. The playmaker ultimately made a name for himself in the Championship, turning into the attacking core of a struggling QPR team.
Chair, who made 236 appearances for the Hoops over seven seasons, was called “terrific” by head coach Marti Cifuentes back in December. It’s possible that Chair will now be promoted to a team that will likely fight for promotion to the first flight.
According to Football Insider, Farke has identified the Belgian-born player as the best option to replace Rutter, and Leeds is determined to sign him.
Friday night’s victory over Sheffield Wednesday was the Whites’ first of the season, but with Rutter and Crysencio Summerville gone, they lack offensive punch at the forward positions. The former signed a £40 million contract to join Brighton, while the latter moved from West Yorkshire to East London to join West Ham for a £25 million fee.
Farke is searching for more offensive options, even though he still has players like Daniel James, Brenden Aaronson, and Fried Gnonto at his disposal. Sensing a market opportunity, the play-off finalists from the previous season are considering a last-minute move for Chair.
The former Stevenage loanee is approaching the last 12 months of his current contract and has not signed a new one, which may put pressure on QPR to move him. The London team might approve a deal for a fair fee because they won’t want to lose their lucky charm in a year as a free agent.
| Chair’s Championship Statistics 2023/24 | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 44 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 8 |
| Shots Per 90 | 2.77 |
| Expected Goals Per 90 | 0.16 |
| Key Passes Per 90 | 2.05 |
| Expected Assists Per 90 | 0.2 |
| Progressive Passes Per 90 | 4.39 |
Leeds lost adolescent Archie Grey earlier this summer, as Tottenham made a £30 million bid for the starlet, in addition to losing out on Rutter and Summerville. Even if Sheffield United’s Jayden Bogle joined to replace Grey, Farke is said to prefer a different right-back option.
The Elland Road team is getting ready to make an offer for Max Aarons, a defender for Bournemouth who may be considered surplus to needs on the south coast. In the match against Nottingham Forest last week, Cherries manager Andoni Iraola chose to start Adam Smith ahead of the former Norwich City player, suggesting that Aarons may no longer be in the Spaniard’s plans. Leeds may take advantage of this to sign a long-term goal.
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