QPR boss Mark Warburton on Eze's future: "He's a QPR player but there are a few bits and pieces going on. What we have to do is just respect that and look after a guy who has come through the ranks here"
Saturday 22 August 2020 17:48, UK
Fulham have joined a clutch of Premier League clubs in the race to sign Eberechi Eze from QPR.
Eze, who scored 14 goals in 46 appearances in the Sky Bet Championship for QPR last season, was not included in the Hoops' matchday squad for Saturday afternoon's friendly with AFC Wimbledon.
QPR did not want to put Eze in an awkward position by playing him in Saturday's friendly as Premier League interest in the forward intensifies. Fulham are thought to be most likely to meet QPR's £20m valuation of the player as it stands.
Speaking to Sky Sports News after Saturday's 3-0 win at Loftus Road, manager Mark Warburton indicated Eze will only leave QPR if the club's valuation of the 22-year-old is met.
Warburton said: "He's a QPR player but there are a few bits and pieces going on. What we have to do is just respect that and look after a guy who has come through the ranks here, and he's one of ours.
"We look after all of our players. It was the right decision [not to play him] today and we'll see what happens in the coming days."
Asked if he thought a deal could be included in the next few days, Warburton said: "I know he is coming to training on Monday. If that changes I will let you know.
"Any situation for any player is resolved when the value of a player is met, that's how you resolve a situation," the QPR boss added.
"You make sure the value is appropriate, the value is correct, and when that value is met we wish everyone the best of luck going forward. That's the way it is at QPR. Right now if it is not reached then he's a QPR player. As long as we pay the wages, he's one of ours."
The England U21 attacker has also attracted interest from West Ham, Newcastle and West Brom, and was the subject of a failed £12m bid from Crystal Palace earlier this month.
QPR's director of football, Les Ferdinand, tipped the attacking midfielder to make Gareth Southgate's England squad for the European Championships, which have been postponed until 2021.
The 22-year-old signed a three-year deal with QPR in 2018 which runs until June 2021.
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
Eberechi Eze is an important player for QPR - in a number of ways. Not only is he without question their most talented individual, he also signifies the results of the change in business philosophy at the west London club. No longer do they haemorrhage money on big names, they have put in place an environment for young talent to flourish.
Eze - snapped up for nothing from Millwall - is a devastating ball-carrier, possessing a glide with the ball that only a unique talent can boast. This season he has added work-rate and tactical awareness to his game without the ball, which has triggered significant interest from the Premier League.
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The summer transfer window will run for 10 weeks from July 27 and close at 11pm on October 5.
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