QPR pipped to Brighton transfer, Chelsea man also sounded out | OneFootball

QPR did business on deadline day, but perhaps more significant were the deals that didn't get done

Queens Park Rangers were active on transfer deadline day on Monday, but they failed in a pursuit of Brighton defender Ruairi McConville - who was snapped up instead by Championship rivals Norwich City.

And enquiries were also lodged for Sheffield United duo Femi Seriki and Alfie Gilchrist - the latter who is on loan from Chelsea - but in-demand Jimmy Dunne remaining at Loftus Road meant that neither defender were needed by Marti Cifuentes.

The Hoops' business that was concluded was focused on looking towards the future, with development squad signings in the form of non-league teenager Archie O'Brien and Brazilian left-back Esquerdinha arriving, whilst Chelsea's versatile left-footer Harvey Vale joined, but will not be fit to play until the 2025-26 season.

QPR beaten to Ruairi McConville deal after being priced out by Brighton

It meant that R's boss Cifuentes failed to add to his current first-team squad on deadline day, having already signed Southampton defender Ronnie Edwards and Tottenham winger Yang Min-hyeok on loan deals in January.

It has emerged though through a report from West London Sport that QPR did look into signing another defender, with an approach made for Brighton youngster Ruairi McConville.

The 19-year-old, who only made one first-team appearance for the Seagulls but has been capped twice by Northern Ireland at senior level, was wanted at Loftus Road, but in the end, the R's were priced out of making an immediate move and were willing to wait until the summer to sign him for a smaller compensation package due to his contract expiring.

However, Norwich were willing to do an immediate deal and soon swooped for the teenager, with talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook claiming that the Canaries have paid an initial £1 million to bring the defender to Carrow Road, with the transfer potentially reaching £2.75 million with add-ons.

Alfie Gilchrist enquiry lodged but Jimmy Dunne saga negated potential Chelsea deal

McConville was not the only defender that QPR were interested in signing, with Graeme Bailey reporting in the final hours of the window that Sheffield United right-back Femi Seriki was being eyed up by the club.

Right-back is the position that defensive stalwart Jimmy Dunne has made his own for the R's this season, but with the Blades having bids turned down for his services in the final week of the window, it was a saga that potentially hadn't ended.

And with the potential that United were going to meet the club's reported £3 million valuation for Dunne, QPR's hierarchy also spoke to Chelsea whilst they were finalising a deal for Harvey Vale about potentially loaning in Alfie Gilchrist, as per the report from WLS, who is on a season-long loan at Bramall Lane.

With Harry Clarke's earlier arrival at United from Ipswich Town, Gilchrist's chances of regular minutes are now an unknown, so QPR registered their interest, but as the window slammed shut on Monday night, Dunne remained a Hoops player, with no need for Gilchrist or Seriki to be signed.