Exclusive: Don Goodman urges QPR caution over potential seven-figure transfer | OneFootball

Don Goodman spoke exclusively to Football League World about QPR's option to purchase Karamoko Dembele this summer

Don Goodman has urged QPR to be cautious about activating their £1.4 million purchase option for Karamoko Dembele, who has been plagued by injury while on loan with the Championship side this term.

QPR turned heads by acquiring Demble's services on loan from Brest, with the likes of Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County having all been linked to the diminutive playmaker.

The R's, however, won the race and secured an agreement to take Dembele on loan for the season's duration, and they have the option to make his stay in West London permanent this summer at a reported cost of £1.4 million.

It came after Dembele enjoyed a stunning campaign on loan in League One with Blackpool, where he registered eight goals and 13 assists for the Tangerines.

The former Celtic prodigy, however, is yet to really make his mark at Championship level. Dembele set up goals in each of his first two matches against Sheffield United and Plymouth Argyle, but has also added one goal and one assist since. The 22-year-old, of course, was sidelined from November to February with a serious knee injury, which required surgery, and has still made a fair impression while on the pitch.

However, his lack of game-time - albeit enforced through injury - has meant that QPR have been urged to be cautious over activating their purchase option for Dembele come the end of the campaign.

Don Goodman urges QPR to be cautious about signing Karamoko Dembele permanently this summer

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman has speculated whether Dembele is worth the fee QPR could shell out as part of the agreement with Brest.

However, he did admit he has seen little of the 22-year-old this term due to his injury absence.

"I always think it’s a tough one when you’re talking about individual players you haven’t seen a lot of," Goodman told FLW.

"So in Karamoko Dembele’s case, all I’ve really got to go on is one or two early sightings of him this season because, until recently, he’d been injured since the back end of October.

"It’s difficult to know.

"When you look at the numbers, last season at Blackpool was exceptional. He started this season off pretty well but just the one goal and three assists, only managed to start 10 games.

"Does that warrant an outlay of £1.4m if you’re QPR? It’s a very difficult one and I suspect that Marti Cifuentes is bound to be the most qualified person to decide whether that would be a good thing."

QPR should activate Karamoko Dembele transfer option this summer

Although QPR would have loved to see more of Dembele this term, and the duration of time he spent on the treatment table will no doubt be a concern, paying just over £1 million for the talented winger could prove an inspired decision in years to come.

Dembele is precociously talented and has the natural profile to enjoy a glittering career in the game.

His diminutive frame and close control allows him to protect the ball well and drift past opponents at ease, while he possesses the craft, vision and technical quality in possession to open up defences and glue attacks together.

When fit, those qualities have been on display. Meanwhile, at 22, Dembele is only going to get better with age and QPR have an opening to capitalise on his long-term potential.