QPR attacking midfielder Adel Taarabt has revealed that Arsenal and Chelsea both contacted his current employers about his availability, and were both quoted a 10 million pound asking price for his services. Neil Warnock seems determined to keep his star player and talisman, but Taarabt’s ambition and the correct asking price might make it a difficult summer for the QPR boss.
In an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe, Taarabt was quite forthcoming about approaches made by both the London heavyweights, but stressed that he would have no problem staying on at Loftus Road if they matched his ambition and tried to finish in the top eight of the Premier League.
When he was asked if he knew which club he would be playing for next season, he said-
“No, not yet. QPR demanded £10 million for me, and for now, the clubs do not move too much.”
“I had contact with Arsenal and Chelsea, but it’s a little messy as Arsenal have not sold Fabregas..As for Chelsea, they have yet to coach…We’ll see.”
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He stated his desire to remain in London as he found it extremely comfortable there. He also said that he would be willing to continue donning QPR colours next year if no deal panned out. He said-
“In any case, I would like to stay in London is the best city in the world. Stay at Queens Park Rangers? Why not. When I talked with the coach, he told me that the club would seek the top eight. For our first season in the Premier League, it would not hurt …”
The Moroccan has talked about Arsenal before, expressing regret that he didn’t move to the red-and-white part of North London when he had the chance and joined Tottenham instead. In March last year, he angered his then employers Spurs by saying-
“I was going to go to Arsenal and Comolli was there with Wenger,”
“But he went to Tottenham so I went there. That was a big mistake for me. My friends in England — like Armand Traore and Abou Diaby at Arsenal — told me Tottenham were not the right fit for me.
“The big mistake was to sign for Tottenham and not go to another club when I first came over.”
Moving to a top club like Chelsea or Arsenal would certainly represent a big step-up for Taarabt, and a chance to play in the Champions League would allow him to pit wits against the very best across Europe. But he risks being a bit-part player there, whereas he is the fulcrum of the current QPR side, and was voted the Championship Player of the Year last season when QPR got promoted to the Premier League. It will be intriguing to see which path he chooses for himself here on in.
