QPR full-back Niko Hamalainen is expected to complete his loan move to Botafogo in the ‘next 24 hours’, reports West London Sport.
Hamalainen, 25, has been with QPR since 2014. The American-born Finnish international joined from FC Dallas and has since racked up 25 league appearances for the R’s.
The left-back featured 22 times in the Championship last season but has since fallen out of favour under Mark Warburton, with Hamalainen spending time on loan with LA Galaxy during the first half of this season.
Now though, Hamalainen is set to join Brazilian side Botafogo on loan, with the move expected to be announced within the next 24 hours.
Hamalainen remains under contract at QPR until 2024. He was at one point regarded as a promising, up and coming player with the QPR ranks but after being handed multiple first-team opportunities, the Finn failed to make a lasting impression.
And despite Warburton having only Lee Wallace and Sam McCallum as his recognised left-backs, Hamalainen still can’t get near the current first-team, and so it’s unsurprising to see him seal another loan exit away from the club.
A move to Brazil is somewhat random, but it’s another exciting oppurtunity for Hamalainen nonetheless.
Up next…
QPR currently sit in 11th place of the Championship table. Their fall from grace has been well documented and it’s landed Warburton in a world of trouble, with many fans now calling for his exit ahead of the next season.
With five games remaining though and a six-point gap to the play-off places, promotion is still on the cards for QPR, although that looks like a highly unlikely outcome.
They return to action against Huddersfield Town on Friday.
