Beerschot Aim To Fend Off QPR Interest

Queens Park Rangers’ hunt for former Stoke City man Thibaud Verlinden has taken a major blow, as his Belgian parent club seek to tie him down to a new deal.

QPR are thought to have been tracking the former Belgian Under 19 international, along with Nuremberg in Germany. However, his parent club, Beerschot, are keen on tying him down to a new deal, as per Dutch outlet Het Nieuwsblad.

The 24-year-old came through Stoke’s academy but only made a handful of appearances for the first team. His major senior experience came in a loan spell with German outfit FC St Pauli, as well as even heading out on loan to Bolton Wanderers during the 2019/20 campaign. Moves to Fortuna Sittard and DAC Dunajská Streda didn’t prove to be any more fruitful, and he wound up with De Kielse Ratten in 2022.

His move to Beerschot, based in Antwerp, has proven more fruitful. This season, he has five goals and ten assists for his side, and he’s been vital in them winning the Belgian second division. Promotion means the club now has the capacity to offer a new deal, thought to be better terms, and over three years.

The Hoops will be planning for life in the upper reaches of the Championship after seemingly being destined for League One last season. They had an appalling start under Gareth Ainsworth before dispensing his services and turning to Marti Cifuentes, a relative unknown previously of Swedish outfit Hammarby.

He turned them around quickly, and when the season finished, QPR was 18th, comfortable in their safety and looking forward to a tenth consecutive season in England’s second tier. They reportedly see Verlinden, valued at €700,000 by Transfermarkt, as a player who can help them continue improving under their Spanish manager.

Site Opinion

They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and Verlinden seemed to turn to trash quite quickly during his Stoke spell. He always looked to be on the cusp of breaking through but just fell short when it mattered. At St Pauli, his only appearances came for their B team, and despite looking decent for Bolton, he played during a challenging time.

He’s certainly caught fire now, and it’s no surprise QPR are interested. His form has been sensational, and whilst the Challenger Pro League isn’t the same standard as the Championship, the player has definite value.

However, if Beerschot are going hard at keeping him, that price tag will go up and that increases the risk against any possible reward. If he pens the deal, QPR will move on, rather than cough up a big fee.