QPR will attempt to persuade Spurs to allow defender Kyle Walker to extend his spell in W12 through to the end of the season when his current deal expires after January 3.

News

Walker has been revelation for Rangers since signing from Spurs back in September but has been linked with a move to Premiership strugglers West Ham for the second half of the campaign. Harry Redknapp is said to be keen for Walker to stay with Rangers and Neil Warnock has been speaking to Spurs about extending the deal.

He told the Kilburn Times: “I will be speaking to him to give us an early decision on that, whether they’ll extend Kyle Walker’s loan or not. We’ve been sending them videos and things like that, so he knows the situation and I’m sure he’ll let us know as soon as possible.”

As promised in the last Diary, silly season is well upon us and to further underline that point we have gone from being linked with Chesterfield striker Craig Davies to Fiorentina front man and bad boy of European football Adrian Mutu. The Daily Mail went big on this story today, based seemingly on their belief that Gianni Paladini has good contacts at Fiorentina and therefore this is bound to happen, but Neil Warnock remains unconvinced. He said: “No I don't think so. There are always possibilities - you don't say no to anybody. We have contacts in Italy and in one or two other places with good players. Like anybody else the owners are in conversations with many people and names are pushed forward and they put it past me. But at the moment we are not thinking of anything substantial like that."

Former R’s

Matt Pickens, the man who seems to have all but ended Rowan Vine’s career by breaking his leg in a training ground tackle, has been called up to an experimental USA squad for a forthcoming friendly with Chile. Pickens never made an appearance for QPR during six months in W12 under Luigi De Canio but has since won the MLS title with Colorado Rapids.

Coach Bob Bradley said: “The January camp has always been an opportunity to look a little closer at players who had very good seasons in MLS and also at some players who are playing regularly with club teams in Scandinavia."

Championship Shorts

- Hull City are wasting no time in splashing their new found cash after the Allam family completed their takeover earlier this week. The Tigers had a bid for Swindon’s Charlie Austin dismissed yesterday but will talk with Peterborough’s Aaron McLean tomorrow after agreeing a fee for League One’s top goal scorer. They also have an offer on the table for Leicester forward Matty Fryatt.

- Palace boss George Burley says he needs to make five signings this January to keep the Eagles afloat. With his team firmly esconsed in the bottom three after a 3-0 defeat at Forest at the weekend Burley said today: “We are looking to strengthen the squad in January as our options are limited," said Burley. Some of our loan players could go back which would give us an option to get new ones in and we have pinpointed some that we want. The owners are aware what we need to do and I think we need to do our utmost to bring four or five players in when the window opens."

- Norwich defender Leon Barnett has been banned for two matches for throwing the ball at the referee after a recent red card. Barnett received a second booking in injury time of Norwich’s 2-0 home defeat by Portsmouth and had a penalty awarded against him. The usual ban for this offence is one game but Barnett hurled the ball at referee Simon Hooper on his way off and will now miss a further two matches.

- Scunthorpe are hoping to re-sign striker Paul Hayes for a third time, just six months after he left the club to join Preston. Hayes has failed to settle in the north west, or make the Barnsley team during a recent loan there and manager Ian Barraclough is monitoring the situation. West Ham have recalled striker Freddie Sears from his loan at Glanford Park, and the Iron say they cannot afford the wages of their former full back Marcus Williams who had been linked with a move back to North Lincolnshire on loan from Reading who he joined in the summer.

- Goalkeeper Brian Jensen has requested a transfer from Burnley after losing his place to Lee Grant. Boss Brian Laws said: “Brian's disappointed he's not playing, I can understand that. We'll see how things pan out, you've got to have a buyer or a taker - it doesn't mean we'll be accepting anything or doing anything."

Parish Noticeboard

Fans are being reminded that should the game beat the weather, QPR’s Boxing Day clash with Swansea at Loftus Road will not be an easy one to reach. London Underground workers are planning to strike on Boxing Day as they seek double time payments, as well as a day off in lieu, for working the Bank Holiday which leaves fans with few options to make the 1pm kick off in Shepherds Bush.

Even if the strike is averted, and frankly if the ASLEF Union would care to take a quick glance into the real world that’s exactly what it should be, extensive closures are planned for the Bank Holiday.

- Hammersmith and City line has no service between Kings Cross and Barking.

- Circle Line is suspended between Moorgate and Hammersmith and Canon Street Station is closed.

- District Line has no service between Plaistow and Dagenham East, and Canon Street Station is closed.

- There is no service on the Metropolitan Line between Baker Street and Aldgate.

- Waterloo and City line suspended.

- No service between Stratford and Bow on the DLR.

- No London Overground services will operate at all on Boxing Day, including the Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction line which serves Shepherds Bush.

Photo: Action Images

18StoneOfHoop added 10:47 - Dec 23 No-one likes him he don't care: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/13/bob-crow-strikes-rmt-union
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