Newcastle and Southampton have been linked with QPR star Ryan Manning.
Football Insider have claimed that both clubs are interested in the Irishman, whose contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
Football Insider claimed that Southampton are confident of a “cut-price deal” to sign Manning and the following day claimed that Newcastle are also in the hunt to sign him.
But the player might be harder to prise away from QPR than the speculation about his future suggests.
Who is Ryan Manning?
Manning, 23, was signed by QPR from his hometown club Galway United in 2015.
Having made the breakthrough to first-team level under Ian Holloway, he was out of favour under Steve McClaren and spent the first half of last season on loan at Rotherham.
Despite being recalled last January, he continued to be overlooked. But following the sacking of McClaren he was converted from a midfielder to left-back and produced some impressive performances there towards the end of last season. He has continued to impress at left-back this term.
Cut-price move?
While Manning’s performances might have been noted by clubs, it’s unlikely that Rangers will in fact be forced to sell him on the cheap. The financial position at Loftus Road has improved somewhat – so much so that in the summer they reportedly offered more than £3m when trying in vain to land Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna.
Plus, journalist David McIntyre has told R’s fans on Twitter that QPR are looking to tie Manning to a longer-term contract and that in any case there is an option to extend his current deal for an additional year, meaning he is effectively under contract until 2021.
The same is apparently true of Bright Osayi-Samuel and a similar option appears to have been inserted in Ebere Eze’s contract too – Southampton have also recently been linked with Eze.
They’re doing contracts for BOS and Manning but options on both so no rush. Smyth’s injured. https://t.co/ofpYfAG63q
— David McIntyre (@davidmcintyre76) September 24, 2019
They do yeah. So effectively under contract til 2022. https://t.co/GSmRoYTPYS
— David McIntyre (@davidmcintyre76) September 24, 2019
So it seems unlikely that Manning will be going anywhere for the time being unless QPR receive a sizeable offer for the Irish Under-21 international, whose eventual call-up to the senior Ireland squad seems to be inevitable.