'Bid Confirmed': QPR striker wanted in Saudi Arabia so Tottenham must act now

Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace should consider making a move for this rising Championship star.

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QPR rising star Rayan Kolli is enjoying a breakthrough season at Loftus Road and fresh reports this week suggest that the 20-year-old has attracted suitors from other countries.

The striker is not just part of the QPR set-up but a member of the Algeria under-20 international squad, which has seen his stock rise abroad too. Foot Mercato now suggest that Kolli is ‘sure to become one of the future stars’ for Algeria and that both Ligue 1 clubs and sides in Saudi Arabia are monitoring the player.

AS Monaco and Lille are named as two teams ‘chasing’ the player with Al-Hilal also in the mix and Damac even said to have made a ‘formal offer’. Kolli signed a new, long-term contract with the club in January and, given fitness issues up front this term, the Championship outfit will certainly be keen and confident of keeping the player for now - especially with Marti Cifuentes cultivating a reputation as a head coach who prioritises youth.

Saudi bid should kick Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur into action

However, the transfer talk should put Premier League sides in London on red alert, especially Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. There’s no doubting Kolli’s ability and, while he may not be ready for the Premier League yet, him taking to the top flight does seem a matter of when and not if.

Kolli both scored and assist in the FA Cup game against Leicester City in January, standing out in a 6-2 defeat against the Premier League opposition. His first goals for QPR came in a 3-0 win over Norwich City in December.

Rating the player a 9/10 for his performance in that match, West London Sport said: “A great day for the young forward, whose first two senior goals helped Rangers get that much-needed first home win of the campaign. He was helped for both by poor goalkeeping from Angus Gunn, but his header and right-footed finish were on target and both goals were rewards for Kolli’s excellent movement and willingness to close down defenders. He made a clever run to head home his first and the second came after he dispossessed Callum Doyle. And aside from the goals, Kolli in general gave Rangers the kind of dynamism up front they’ve been sorely lacking.”

Kolli ‘best young prospect’ at QPR

Kolli’s ability has also been praised by Football League World fan pundit Louis Moir, who labelled the striker the ‘best young prospect’ at Loftus Road. That’s some praise with Kieran Morgan and Alfie Lloyd impressing this term and Emerson Sutton touted for big things.

Moir wrote: “It’s nice to see someone who has been at the club for a very long time, since they were really young, hopefully becoming an actual sellable asset in the future for us, and someone who you can say has come through the youth system.

“He did himself wonders against Norwich, scoring two goals. He’s been fortunate, as with the other strikers being out injured, we had no one else to lead the line. “He’s been thrown in and has done well. If you look at his actual goal involvements for us in the Championship, either starting or coming on, he is doing very well.

“Obviously he has still got a long way to go to be a top player, but for him at the moment, at his age, he is doing everything right. He’s still only 19. If he kicks on and develops like he could, then he could be the next player we sell on for quite a lot of money.

“He’s got that sort of technical ability as an attacking midfielder, wide player and striker. He has got something about him. You’ve just got to unlock that further and hope that he kicks on. He’s doing everything right at the moment, and it’s really exciting to have him at the club.”

Crystal Palace should follow Eberechi Eze success

Really, Kolli would be a coup for any Premier League club given just how high is ceiling is, but should be of particular note to Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur. The Eagles are famous for their ability to sign EFL talent and turn them into top flight regulars, as has been seen with Michael Olise, Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton. Palace of course have had huge success with Eberechi Eze since snapping him up from QPR in 2020.

With Jean-Philippe Mateta linked with an exit, Oliver Glasner and Steve Parish will no doubt be thinking about the long term future of that striker role. Kolli’s diversity could see him fill the attacking midfielder roles, as well as the lead man, in that Glasner system.

Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou had shown a fearlessness to trust youth this season. While that has been somewhat caused by injury problems, it’s the type of attitude that will please fans in north London.

Spurs have a good relationship with QPR, trusting the Championship club to take South Korean ‘historical prospect’ Yang Min-heyok on loan over the back end of the season. Kolli has the dynamism and verstaility that matches the profile of forwards that Spurs like, such as Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min and Mathys Tel.

In other news, Southampton are 'set' for a huge announcement in wake of Tottenham defeat.