Redknapp eyes £5m Olsson bid

Harry Redknapp is chasing West Brom defender Jonas Olsson in an attempt to shore up QPR’s creaking back line according to the Daily Mirror.

Redknapp is already set to lose veteran centre-half Ryan Nelsen who is returning to the MLS to manage FC Toronto and the New Zealander’s departure will leave a gaping hole in the R’s already porous defence. Neither Clint Hill nor Anton Ferdinand look up to the task of helping Rangers out of their relegation scrap and in all probability Redknapp will hope Olsson is not the only new face he can add to his defence.

On the surface it seems a little unlikely that Olsson would swap the Baggies fight for a European place for the relegation dogfight in West London, but apparently the 29-year-old has always fancied a move to London and Ranger’s location could work in their favour.

Olsson’s contract also contains a £4m buy clause which will become active in the summer and Redknapp hopes that his £5m offer will be enough to persuade Steve Clark to let the Swede move to West London. 

Quite why West Brom have allowed Olsson’s contract to get to this situation, especially when he has been in such good form over the past couple of seasons, is unclear. An offer of an improved deal would surely appeal to Olsson and allow him to stay at the Hawthorns as they mount an unexpected assault on the European places.

If Redknapp does miss out on Olsson he has apparently identified Tottenham defender William Gallas, who he is a great admirer of, as an alternative after working with him at Spurs in the past.

Jack Johnson

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