Queens Park Rangers have signed striker Loic Rémy from Marseille for a club record £8m fee.
Despite QPR being bottom of the Premier League, Remy has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal rumoured to be for £75,000 a week. The total deal stands to be worth approximately £17.5m before bonuses, including a big one for avoiding relegation.
It was well reported that Newcastle were chasing the striker’s signature for a while before QPR hijacked the deal, offering virtually double the wages that was put forward by the north-east club. Rémy stated that Harry Redknapp played a big part in him joining the London club and that when he spoke to Redknapp and Tony Fernandes, they made it clear they wanted him to join.
The QPR manager has previously watched Rémy while in the hot seat at former club Tottenham and said “He’s always been a player I’ve admired. I’ve watched him on so many occasions throughout the last few years”. Redknapp spoke admirably of Rémy’s pace, movement and goalscoring threat and the 26-year-old will be available to make his debut at West Ham on Saturday. This becomes QPR’s second signing of the January transfer window after the capture of out-of-contract defender Tal Ben Haim.
“This is the right time for to pursue a new challenge in the Premier League – the best league in the world, after I have spent seven years in France.” said Rémy. “I am confident I can adapt to the Premier League and my main characteristics have taken me to the level I am at today but I am keen to keep improving in the Premier League.”
After seeing the departures of Keiron Dyer and Ryan Nelsen from the club, Redknapp is prepared to move on Bosingwa as well as Djibril Cissé who is expected to complete a loan move to Qatar. There are also doubts over the futures of several others, including Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell as Redknapp must keep in mind the Premier League’s 25-man squad limit rule.
