The Telegraph believe that QPR are close to concluding a £2m deal to sign Andy Johnson in January.

Johnson has rejected a new deal offered to him by Fulham and, although Martin Jol said he was unworried by the continuing uncertainty over the striker’s future at his press conference this afternoon, the Cottagers are privately moving towards a position of having to consider selling the 30 year-old in the winter transfer window. Johnson is out of contract in the summer and Fulham would not want to lose him for nothing.

Jol was playing his best poker face at the press conference, saying:

I’m not worried. Of course there’s always interest from other clubs but he’s still under contract until the end of the season.

Johnson is certain to attract suitors given his fine form this season. Having battled back from a serious knee injury, the former Crystal Palace and Everton striker has scored 11 goals in 19 appearances this season, including a hat-trick against QPR in October. His £2m-a-year salary has reportedly been sanctioned by new QPR chairman Tony Fernandes, who is intent on helping Neil Warnock strengthen his squad when the window reopens in January.

Fulham’s decision will be whether to retain a player who could score vital goals in the knowledge that he could walk away for nothing in the summer or risk selling him to a rival – potentially in a relegation dogfight as the Telegraph notes – for a fee that might not reflect his true value.