Queens Park Rangers have made securing the services of Fulham midfielder Stefan Johansen on a permanent basis one of their highest summer transfer priorities.
Rangers, who have today confirmed the capture of experienced striker Charlie Austin from West Brom, are eager to turn Johansen’s successful loan from Craven Cottage into a transfer. The Norwegian midfielder was hugely impressive after moving to Shepherd’s Bush in January, scoring three goals and making two more in 21 appearances for the R’s.
The 30 year-old, who retired from international football in March in the hope of prolonging his playing career, has spoken publicly of becoming disheartened at a lack of first-team opportunities at Fulham. He was not included in Scott Parker’s 25-man Premier League squad last season and has just a year to run on his current contract. The only significant stumbling block could be Rangers’ matching Johansen’s wage demands.
Johansen was a key figure in Fulham’s two promotion-winning sides from the Championship, but has twice been jettisoned once the Whites returned to the top flight. He previously spent time on loan with West Brom when Fulham were relegated in 2019 – helping the Baggies reach the Championship play-offs. The former Celtic midfielder has made 136 appearances for Fulham – scoring 21 goals – since making the move south of the border in August 2016. He formed a classical partnership with Tom Cairney and Kevin McDonald in Slavisa Jokanovic’s iconic Championship midfield as the Whites reached the play-off semi finals in 2017 and then went one better against Aston Villa at Wembley the following year.
Hopefully we can get the Johanson deal over the line, great player and well loved at QPR, we should give a lot of credit to the QPR board who have now brought in 3 of the 4 good players we had on loan, permanently, Johanson would be the icing on the cake.
Always felt this was inevitable. Hope Stef gets his move and is able to play first-team football. He’s been magnificent for Fulham in the Championship – great value at £2.5m – and has not been treated well by the club’s hierarchy at all in recent seasons.
He might not be at the level of 2018 any more, but as his loan spell at QPR proves he’s still very capable in the Championship. I’ve got so many fond memories of him in a Fulham that go far further than the shithousery – those great goals at Nottingham Forest, Norwich and QPR especially. Good luck, Stefan, you’ve been brilliant.
We would be mad to let him go we need him,we shouldn’t have loaned him out in the 1st place
why would he want to stay John? we’ve repeatedly cast him aside at the first opportunity, he can’t feel valued by the club at all
Sign on the dotted line sooner than later – they shouldnt have let you go on loan in the first place. Our gain is Fulhams loss (hopefully).
The last piece of the puzzle if we can get him permanently to add to all the loanee’s we’ve signed thus far on contracts. Things looking good for next season even if we don’t sign anyone else. Us Superhoopers haven’t said for a few years!
Can’t blame Johansen for looking for pastures new. Terrific servant to Fulham, always gave everything and has been baffling underused in recent years. Hope he gets regular football again – because he’s still got plenty to offer.
It’s a Shame it’s not down to Stefan Johansen, Stefan Johansen wants to play for QPR,
We are keeping Stef Jo. Sorry QPR
Wish we’d kept him at Fulham, the way he’s been treated has been abominable…..cast aside and replaced by players like Lemina and Ruben Loftus-Cheek who between them never delivered what Stefan did.
Come on QPR board we need Stefan. The midfield looks so productive with him and Ilias, what a good team it would be to get promotion back to the PL. Getting the other 3 loanees has been brilliant, come on let’s make it a full house.