Adel Taarabt ready to leave QPR over contract dispute

adel Taarabt – QPR – Morocco

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QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt is ready to leave the newly-promoted club following a breakdown in contract talks.

The mercurial forward played a key role in the club’s return to the Premier League last season.

But the 22-year-old is not willing to remain at Loftus Road on the existing terms of his contract and believes the club could struggle to remain in the top flight.

“I helped QPR win promotion but they will not offer me a better contract,” he said, according to the Daily Mail. “They say I am already on big wages.

“They want me to stay four years on the same terms. But I don’t want to sign for four years then after one year I am going to be back in The Championship.

“No disrespect, but if we keep the same players, it will be very difficult to stay in the Premier League when you are playing Man United and Chelsea.”

A fee of around £10m has been mooted to secure the services of the star player in Neil Warnock’s promoted side, with Taarabt revealing a significant amount of any fee received would have to be given to his former club Tottenham.

“It’s a lot of money because I have not been successful yet in the Premier League,” Taarabt admitted.

“But when Rangers sell me they have to give 40 per cent of the fee to Tottenham, my first club.”

Newcastle previously failed with a £5m bid for the former Spurs man, and Taarabt indicated he would be interested in a potential move to St James’ Park.

He continued: “It is good for me that Newcastle have a few French players.

“People say Newcastle will be good for me, that the fans love players like me. It is fantastic to play in front of 50,000 supporters every week.

“I do not need one of the very big clubs at this stage.”

The Moroccan was named the Football League Player of the Year last term. His contract with QPR runs until 2013, but he is believed to have a get-out clause available next summer.