"Could add much more depth" - Ilias Chair, QPR cash-in dilemma mooted as Karamoko Dembele claim made | OneFootball

Football League World's QPR fan pundit assesses how the club could adjust if Ilias Chair joins Leeds United

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Leeds United are reportedly plotting a late transfer move for QPR star Ilias Chair, who notched 15 goal contributions for the R's in the Championship last campaign.

Football Insider have reported that the Whites, who are vying for promotion, are interested in signing the Morocco international with just days remaining in the transfer window.

Daniel Farke's side may move on to the Hoops playmaker after having a bid turned down for Sheffield United's mercurial Dutch midfielder Gustavo Hamer, with the Sheffield Star revealing a figure of £13 million has recently been turned down by the Blades.

QPR fan pundit believes Karamoko Dembele could directly replace Ilias Chair

Football League World's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, described how the R's could adjust to Chair's potential late transfer window exit by utilising Karamoko Dembele, on loan from French Ligue 1 outfit Brest, as his permanent replacement following his lightning start to 2024-25, where he has created 12 big chances in just two outings.

"Dembele's been unbelievable, he's not even played two full games yet, and he's created the most chances in the whole league," Louis told FLW.

"He looks very, very good. He looks unbelievable - every time he gets on the ball you think something's going to happen.

"If we did cash in on Ilias Chair, Dembele can play in that number 10 role. "It would allow us to strengthen even more attacking wise, in terms of attacking midfielders or wingers and I think the money we get for Chair, we could reinvest that in not just the attacking areas, but the whole squad in general. "We could add much more depth.

"We're looking good at the moment, but we could look even better with more money coming in, and even though it would be such a shame for Chair to leave, you could get maybe even two, three, four players in with the money we'd get for him.

"Players have got to move on at the end of the day, and I thought he would have left by now.

"I'm surprised he's still at QPR and if he does go, he probably deserves a move, and as long as we got the right amount of money, I don't think anyone would complain really.

"Obviously, you wish him well, and he's been a cracking player for us, but players move on. "We've got Dembele, we've got (Koki) Saito, we'll probably get another one or two in, and you adapt. "So if it happens, we move on, we adapt, we progress as a new squad, we carry on building.

"If he doesn't go, even better, he stays and adds 10 times more quality to what we've already got."

Ilias Chair's QPR exit wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for the Hoops

If Chair leaves Loftus Road in the coming days, he would be a difficult man to replace, especially with so little time left in the transfer window for Cifuentes to find a replacement.

However, the talented Dembele could help the R's plug the gap Chair would leave, thanks to his unquestionable creative prowess.

In just two appearances for the R's, the former Celtic man has already made two assists, helping his side earn draws against both Sheffield United and Plymouth Argyle.

Furthermore, during a loan spell with Blackpool last season, the 21-year-old scored eight goals and created 13 assists in League One, while his early performances this campaign indicate he will be capable of bridging the gap to the Championship.

Chair's potential departure would undoubtedly affect the R's in a negative manner, but Dembele can help ease the pressure on his fellow attack-minded players.

And with the money that would be brought in for Chair's departure, Cifuentes can strengthen a number of different positions within his squad that he may not have been able to do if the Morocco international were not to move on - that may be the best course of action, given how well Dembele has played in the playmaker's absence.