Why QPR should go all out for Scott McKenna in January
According to Daily Record, QPR are set to make a renewed attempt to sign Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna when the transfer window reopens in January.
The R’s had a deadline-day bid for the 23-year-old centre-back thrown out of the window by Aberdeen this past summer but they are now weighing up another bid to try and tempt the Dons into selling one of their prized assets. (h/t Daily Record)
McKenna was the subject of interest from Scottish giants Celtic, as well as several EFL Championship clubs Swansea City, Stoke City and Hull City during the summer window. A move south of the border never came to fruition, with Aberdeen keen to play hardball with the potential suitors. (h/t Daily Record)
Despite the centre-back handing in a transfer request, Aberdeen rejected all bids, including a lucrative £7million offer from newly-promoted Premier League club Aston Villa. (h/t Daily Record)
Now, QPR are exploring the possibility of going back in the market for the Scotsman’s services during the mid-season trading period.
The R’s had been flying high earlier in the campaign following a bright start to life under Warburton in the EFL Championship but recent unimpressive results have resulted in a slip down to 14th in the standings, with the west London outfit only winning two of their last 10 league fixtures.
To that end, Warburton must plug the holes in his squad by bringing in some reinforcements during the January window and bolstering the backline should be atop the club’s transfer agenda, with the R’s shipping goals for fun in the first half of the campaign.
QPR’s tally of 44 goals conceded in 23 games is the third-worst defensive record in the Championship. New defensive recruits in January could make a massive difference to a side that has already plundered so many goals.
Scott McKenna is one of the best central defenders north of the border in the Scottish top-flight and QPR completing a move for the 23-year-old could well go a long way towards adding some much-needed stability to their brittle backline.
McKenna, who already boasts of 14 senior international caps for Scotland under his belt, has proven to be a cut above most of his counterparts in the Scottish Premiership.
Verdict
With so many clubs having already failed in their attempts to bring the centre-back to English football, QPR might need to pay over the odds to secure a deal. However, McKenna certainly looks well worth a significant outlay in the transfer window, given his obvious talent and vast potential.
Furthermore, the Scottish international still has his best years ahead of him at 23 and QPR would be well within their rights to look at him as an excellent long-term solution.
The centre-back pairing of Grant Hall and Toni Leistner hasn’t really been all that bad but QPR just can’t harbour hopes of mounting a promotion push with such a shambolic defensive record.
Lee Wallace, Geoff Cameron and Yoann Barbet have all struggled to stem the inflow of goals but McKenna certainly has the quality and the physicality to make his presence felt in the Championship.
Having said that, QPR should not hesitate to go all out in their pursuit of Scott McKenna during the mid-season trading period, as he could make all the difference between promotion glory and another long and hard slog in the Championship next season.
