QPR were last night attempting to secure the signing
of goalkeeper Lee Camp from Derby.
Camp, who ended last season on loan at Rangers, was
due to discuss
personal terms as we went to press.
Rangers have been trying to thrash out a deal for Camp
since he left the club after helping Ian Holloway’s
side win promotion.
Derby immediately signalled their determination to
keep the former England youth international by
slapping a £1million price tag on his head and
transfer-listing keeper Andy Oakes.
But Oakes has a year of a lucrative contract at Pride
Park left to run and Derby seem unable to offload him.
And with Camp keen to play first-team football having
tasted success in west London, the Rams are ready to
let him go.
As things stood yesterday, Rangers were set to capture
Camp on a free transfer. But Derby would net a
substantial slice - at least 50 per cent and possibly
more - of any future fee paid for the highly-rated
19-year-old.
The expected arrival of Camp, who turns 20 next month,
is a blow for Chris Day.
Camp was initially signed in March as cover while Day
was sidelined and having kept him out of the side at
the end of the campaign, he is now on course to start
the new season in his place.
Few could have predicted the abscess that flared up on
Day’s shin four months ago would prove so costly for
him.
He has been outstanding for Rangers but faces the
prospect of losing his status as the club’s number one
keeper.
Holloway is also keen to sign a centre-back. He has
been giving a trial to ex-Nottingham Forest man Jon
Olaf Hjedle and has held talks with no-nonsense
Ipswich defender George Santos.
Norwegian Hjedle, 31, spent last season with Korean
outfit Buscan Icons - Jamie Cureton’s former club -
but is looking for a move back to England.
Santos, weeks short of his 34th birthday, is not
wanted at Ipswich and is available on a free transfer.
He has previously played for Tranmere, West Brom,
Sheffield United and Grimsby.
Meanwhile, Rangers are still hoping to pip Stoke to
the signing of out-of-contract Bristol City midfielder
Aaron Brown and have made ambitious enquires about
young Arsenal forward Jeremie Aliadiere.