QPR has to adopt an aggressive transfer position with both Sinclair Armstrong and Lyndon Dykes.
With Sinclair Armstrong’s rapid rise to prominence at QPR, a change in leadership may be necessary.
After a terrible first half of the season under Gareth Ainsworth, QPR supporters are beginning to correctly hope that Marti Cifuentes will keep them up; yet, they may decide to go in a different direction with regard to their strike force for the upcoming campaign.
The R’s had a terrible start to the season, winning just two of their first 17 league games, including a stretch of four goals in ten games prior to Ainsworth being fired. With just eight losses since November 1st, Cifuentes has pulled off an incredible comeback since then, moving them out of the relegation zone.
They should give credit to a few players for their impressive second half of the season, but more than any other, Sinclair Armstrong has the potential to become a serious issue going forward.
Why QPR needs to take a strong stand on transfers for Sinclair Armstrong and Lyndon Dykes.
Rangers management considered Lyndon Dykes to be a dangerous addition when he moved from Scottish Premiership team Livingston to Loftus Road back in 2020, especially considering that he had only netted nine goals in 25 league games for the Lions the previous season.
However, one could argue that it paid off nearly in the form of a fruitful initial few years in West London. In his debut season with the team, Dykes scored 12 goals in the Championship, earning him a spot in the Scotland squad for the Euros. In the next two seasons, Dykes scored 8 goals in the Championship back-to-back.
With that in mind, service has unavoidably proven difficult for Dykes to capitalize on. QPR just avoided relegation last season after an incredible start under Michael Beale, winning only four games under Gareth Ainsworth’s disastrous second half of the campaign.
Although Armstrong’s performances and Dykes’ lack of goals may herald a new era at QPR, it hasn’t been an easy year for the star born in Australia. Despite Dykes’ bad run of play, there are still two years left on his deal, so selling him might get you a sizable sum. And because Armstrong has a high ceiling and is eight years younger, there’s more to work with there.
How Sinclair Armstrong is getting better time and time again at Loftus Road
When Armstrong joined the squad last season, he made a lot of appearances early on. However, it was his brisk, forceful finishes against teams like Burnley, the eventual winners, that excited many Championship supporters. With his stocky physique and raw pace, Armstrong is physically superior to most Championship players; all he needs to do is put it into practice and record goals and assists.
He has contributed three assists and three goals so far this season, which isn’t a bad total considering that all three of his goals have proved to be game-winning strikes against Millwall, Cardiff, and Leicester. He is a fantastic talent that the R’s acquired at the age of 20, and given Dykes’ struggles this season, the club need to be taking a different approach on either player.
Potential Destinations for Lyndon Dykes Should He Choose to Leave Queens Park Rangers
Dykes has previously been connected to moves away from QPR; clubs in England and the north of the border have reportedly expressed interest in signing him.
Given his prior stays in Scotland and his skill with the national team, Celtic and Rangers were rumored to be interested. Stoke has also been linked to him in the past; however, any transfer to the Bet365 Stadium could heavily depend on how well QPR and Stoke do when their Championship survival bids begin in May.
Even though Dykes is still a valuable asset at the second level and might even prove to be more productive if the R’s fall into League One, the R’s should attempt to cash in this summer given his contract situation.
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