This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Queens Park Rangers enjoyed a busy transfer window with ten new additions to Marti Cifuentes’ squad, and the loan signing of winger Karamoko Dembélé has been praised as the best piece of business that the club did throughout the summer.
Dembélé, who was long a highly-rated youth player at Celtic, joined Marti Cifuentes’ side on a season-long loan with an option to buy from French outfit Stade Brestois in August, after the Hoops beat off reported competition for his signature from Birmingham City and Derby County.
The 21-year-old enjoyed an impressive term on loan at Blackpool in 2023/24, as he registered eight goals and 13 assists in League One under Neil Critchley, and he has had an immediate impact and continued that strong form so far in the second-tier at Loftus Road.
Dembélé has been the R’s main creative force so far this season, and has started all three of the opening league games while picking up assists in his first two games for the club against Sheffield United and Plymouth Argyle respectively.
FLW’s resident Hoops fan pundit, Louis Moir, has heaped praise on the 21-year-old’s early performances in Cifuentes’ side, and believes that he has been a clear standout among their summer signings so far.
“Overall, our window this summer has been really good. It’s been exciting, it’s been something different, it’s been something that I have wanted to see for years,” he told FLW.
“If all the new players gel and something really clicks, we could be building something special here.
“The best bit of business we did is a tough one, but I’d probably have to say (signing) Karamoko Dembele on a loan deal with an obligation to buy, because he looks to be an unbelievable signing.
“I was at Sheffield United away for his debut when he started, and he was the best player on the pitch.
“He was the best player on the pitch at home to Plymouth too. He’s had such an impact already.
“He’s only started a few games, and he has already created the most chances in the whole league.
“He looks to have fitted in perfectly and is so explosive when he’s got the ball at his feet. His touch is amazing, he looks like he’s going to be some player for us this season.
“I’m just so excited by him, and with us having an obligation to buy him, I think that is quality business.
“I don’t want to get too carried away because it’s obviously so soon into the season, but if carries on the way he has been playing and puts in performances like we’ve seen so far, he really could potentially be on Eberechi Eze’s level in terms of quality.
“I don’t want to get carried away and say he is the next Adel Taarabt, but he could well be up there if he carries on, because his talent is ridiculous.”
