http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/football-hotline/2012/05/27/qpr-ready-to-fight-liverpool-for-jermain-defoe-signature-102039-23876045/
QPR ready to fight Liverpool for Jermain Defoe signature May 27 2012
By Dave Kidd and Tom Hopkinson
QPR are ready to rival Liverpool in the race to sign Jermain Defoe.
The England striker has revealed his frustration with a lack of first-team starts at Tottenham and is likely to be granted a move this summer if a £10million price tag is met.
Liverpool were keen to sign Defoe, 29, before Kenny Dalglish's sacking and so any potential move to Anfield is on ice until the club appoint a new manager and sporting director.
Rangers boss Mark Hughes is aware of Defoe's availability as he looks to overhaul a squad which only narrowly avoided relegation last term.
QPR are one of the few clubs who could meet Tottenham's valuation as well as wages of around £70,000 a week.
Hughes has a clutch of strikers on his books already and is also close to signing Fulham's Andy Johnson.But the Welshman, who is looking to move on Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell, would see the capture of Defoe as proof of QPR's ambition to establish themselves at the right end of the Premier League table.
Defoe, under contract until 2014, is in England's Euro 2012 squad despite his lack of starting opportunities at Spurs.
Liverpool's next boss is likely to prioritise the signing of a proven scorer after a goal-shy campaign, so Defoe is still likely to feature on their shopping list.
Even if Rangers miss out on Defoe, they look certain to net Johnson.
And Rangers want to land Manchester United full-back Fabio on loan for the new season.
Fabio, younger brother to Rafael at Old Trafford, has struggled to command a regular place since joining from Fluminense in 2008.
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is set to miss out on long-term target Lassana Diarra, with the Real Madrid midfielder poised to choose Galatasaray over the north London club.
