Why Ian Holloway And QPR Must Do Everything Within Their Power To Keep Hold Of This Everton Bound 18-year Old Attacker

Why QPR Must Do Everything They Can To Keep Hold Of Josh Bowler

Queens Park Rangers are reportedly looking to offer starlet Josh Bowler a new contract in an attempt to keep him at Loftus Road.

The club seem ready to offer improved terms to Bowler, with his current contract running until next year. Premier League clubs remain interested in him though, particularly Everton who had an initial bid rejected for the midfield player recently and was followed up quickly with a second but, as yet unanswered by Rangers.

Although the club, like any other in the Championship, may welcome the money, it seems like they would genuinely rather retain the player for the new season. The 18-year-old only made his first team debut on the final day of the season as QPR were beaten at Carrow Road by Norwich, but has made an impact playing for the U-23’s.

Arsenal may yet challenge Everton for the winger’s signature which would be a bad outcome for the Merseysiders, as even if they don’t lose out to the North London club ultimately they will have to pay an inflated fee. QPR do appear determined to keep hold of the player, who they signed in 2013, after having been released by Fulham. He has a very good future.

Born in Chertsey, the 18-year-old was on the books at QPR’s West London rivals Fulham for a number of years, before they decided to let him go. The winger was picked up by QPR back in August 2013, and in February 2017, he signed his first professional contract, an 18-month deal.

Bowler is comfortable on both flanks and has the skill and control to worry defenders. The young forward definitely has an eye for goal, though his 21 minutes of Championship football so far have of course been nowhere near enough to see how he shapes up against seasoned defenders.

Bowler is only 18 and will definitely improve. He is not someone who can be expected to get straight into a strong Premier League XI and take the league by storm. The fact though that he has huge potential is not lost on the likes of Everton and Arsenal, both of whom have previous experience when it comes to signing young English talents.

Fittingly for the modern game, the player’s agent will already be thinking of Bowler as a future England player and so getting him into a Premier League team as early as possible could be right at the top of their agenda. However, Queens Park Rangers must do everything within their power to keep hold of Bowler.