QPR: Ilias Chair may just have one eye on January transfer window right now - View | OneFootball

Could Ilias Chair have an eye on a QPR exit in January?

Queens Park Rangers have struggled so far this season. The R's sit inside the bottom three after nine games, as pressure begins to mount on Marti Cifuentes.

After performing a minor miracle to keep QPR in the Championship last season, it looks like the popular manager might not be far away from being given his marching orders if the poor form continues.

The summer was full of optimism, with plenty of hungry new talent making their way through the door at Loftus Road, but all the hype seems to have been squashed due to the poor start.

One player who's been at QPR since his teenage years is attacking midfielder Ilias Chair. The 26-year-old has been the subject of plenty of interest throughout his career but is yet to get that move away from London.

The Moroccan has only had 43 minutes of action for the Hoops in the Championship this season. This could be part of the reason Cifuentes' side finds themselves at the wrong end of the table.

The attacker was a crucial part of QPR's arsenal last season, with his contributions looking likely to be the difference between survival and relegation.

Scoring seven times and assisting a further eight in 44 appearances for the R's last season, it's clear to see why the 26-year-old has been subjected to so much interest. Having starred at Loftus Road for many years, Chair could have his eye on a move away.

The contractual situation provides relief for QPR

In 2021, Chair penned a long-term deal with the London outfit, keeping him at the club until summer 2025. Crucially, they inserted an option into the contract which allowed the club to trigger a one-year extension.

This will be a huge relief for Cifuentes, as the worst-case scenario of Chair leaving would at least mean a hefty fee would have to be paid.

Leeds United were reportedly plotting a late swoop for the Rangers star in the summer. However, a move would fail to materialise, which left him at QPR until at least January.

If the club are to take up the option to trigger his extension clause, which seems more than likely, the summer of 2025 could be the last chance QPR have to cash in on their star player before he moves on for free.

Thanks to this clause, the R's weren't forced to sell in the summer, which meant they could retain their prized asset for at least another year.

Fans believe that the London-based club will be able to command a fee between £10-15 million for the Moroccan, which would take some of the sting out of losing their star player.

After a move never came around in the summer, Chair will likely be happy he remained at QPR due to his injury that ruled him out for the opening seven games.

Once the attacker is back to full fitness, he will have a chance to put in some impressive performances to remind clubs higher up the ladder that he's still looking for his move.

Of course, thanks to the extension clause, QPR will be under no pressure to sell in January. However, they could be able to command a higher fee for the Moroccan due to it being a mid-season sale. If the R's are to wait until the summer, this could mean they received a less significant fee for their top contributor last season, but if Cifuentes feels that Chair will be integral in Championship survival, he may decide to take that sacrifice.

For Chair's career personally, leaving in January might be the best bet, especially if QPR are still mired in a relegation battle. The Antwerp-born man must now kick on after his return from injury, to help secure a move in the upcoming window, if that is, indeed, where his mind is drifting towards the end of 2024.