Chris Willock appears to be falling out of favor under manager Gareth Ainsworth at Queens Park Rangers, which could result in the winger being put up for sale in the upcoming January transfer window. Despite the relatively early stage of the 2023-24 Championship season with only 11 matches played, Ainsworth is already facing mounting pressure.
Ainsworth, a former fan favorite at Loftus Road, returned as head coach in February to replace the struggling Neil Critchley. However, there were early doubts about his appointment, and the 2023-24 season has seen few positive moments for QPR. The team’s 4-0 opening day defeat against Watford set a negative tone, and they entered the October international break without a win in their last six fixtures, sitting in the bottom three with just eight points.
Ainsworth has experimented with various systems and player options to improve the team’s performance, but little seems to be working as of now. One player who hasn’t been getting much game time is Chris Willock, despite his past brilliance for the R’s.
Willock’s journey with QPR began in 2020 when he joined from Benfica. He showed promise while on loan at Huddersfield Town earlier that year, but consistency was still an issue. The 2021-22 season was a breakout year for the former Arsenal winger, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists. Unfortunately, hamstring troubles hampered him toward the end of that campaign, and despite a strong start in 2022-23 with six goals in his first nine Championship appearances, injuries persisted.
Willock was sidelined when Ainsworth took over in February and received limited opportunities under his management during the remainder of the season. In the current 2023-24 season, he has started just three of his seven league appearances and is yet to score or assist. Some of his appearances off the bench have been extremely brief, and in one game against Blackburn Rovers, he wasn’t used at all, with a young player, Rayan Kolli, being preferred.
While Ainsworth stated in August that Willock is part of his plans, it seems that this may not be entirely accurate, at least as a regular starter. This situation raises the possibility of Willock being sold during the January transfer window, as his contract with QPR has less than a year remaining.
The value of Chris Willock in the transfer market has fluctuated. During his strong performances at the beginning of last season, he might have been worth more than £5 million. However, his fitness issues and loss of form have diminished his market value. QPR initially acquired Willock for £750,000, and while they could have made a significant profit at one point, this is no longer the case. If they can recoup their investment from another Championship club, it would be a sensible move for all parties.
However, foreign clubs could enter into pre-contract agreements for the following summer if Willock’s contract situation remains the same, potentially leaving QPR powerless to prevent his departure.