This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to The Daily Record, QPR are weighing up a £1.5m January bid for Hearts wonderkid Aaron Hickey.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the R’s are reportedly keeping tabs on the 17-year-old who is making excellent progress with the Scottish Premiership side.
Hickey became the youngest ever player to start a Scottish Cup final when he lined up at left-back against Celtic at the end of last season, and his fine performances have attracted the interest of Scottish giants Rangers.
Back-to-back Premier League champions Manchester City are also looking at the teenager, who has one league goal in seven appearances so far this season.
Preparing for life without Ryan Manning
Another left-back who has been putting in some consistently fine performances of late is QPR’s very own Ryan Manning.
The 23-year-old has scored one goal and registered three assists in 12 Championship appearances this season, playing every minute of the campaign so far under Warburton.
However, his excellent showings have attracted the interest of Premier League side Southampton, who are reportedly keen to take advantage of the Irishman’s contract situation at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium – the Saints believe that they can get him for a cut-price fee with Manning’s contract set to expire next summer.
Newcastle are also interested in the left-back, and it remains to be seen whether or not Manning is tempted by his top-flight admirers.
You might argue that a 17-year-old isn’t yet capable of walking into a Championship XI and replacing one of the best players in that side, although Hickey’s excellent progress with Hearts and the pedigree of the sides who are interested in him suggests he has something special about him.
Manning remains a QPR player, while Hickey is still contracted to Hearts, but QPR’s interest in the latter at a time when Premier League sides are sniffing around the former is certainly interesting.
