Greg Stobart/Goal.com
Manchester: Park Ji-Sung will undergo a medical at QPR on Monday ahead of his proposed move from Manchester United which will see the Premier League giants receive an initial fee of just £2.5 million for the South Korea international.
Reports on Saturday suggested United would recoup £5m for the 31-year-old, who joined Old Trafford seven years ago, but the Red Devils will only receive an extra £2.5m should QPR avoid relegation from the Premier League for a second consecutive season.
Park, who earns £70,000-a-week at United, is in line to become the top earner at Loftus Road in a deal which will represent a significant step in helping the club’s ambitious owner Tony Fernandes turn the west London outfit into a “global” brand.
The former PSV Eindhoven star, who won four Premier League titles during his time in Manchester, must still pass a rigorous medical, however, before completing the move.
Park missed large portions of last season with hamstring and ankle trouble and when he was recalled to the side for the pivotal Manchester derby, having missed the previous seven matches, was way off the pace and was withdrawn with more than 30 minutes remaining of a match that effectively cost his side the title.
Fernandes has invested heavily in the club since he assumed control last August, recruiting the likes of Joey Barton, Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse. But Park’s imminent capture represents a significant upgrade on those transfers and will certainly boost the R’s profile in the Far East, where the Malaysian businessman owns the AirAsia airline.
QPR are due to play in Indonesia on July 23 as part of their pre-season preparations and Park is likely to feature.
"We are still waiting for a confirmation," Indonesian Premier League spokesperson Abi Hasantoso said.
"But if the deal goes through, we believe Park will come along. It was their [QPR`s] commitment to bring their best squad here."
QPR have already called a press conference for Monday where they are also rumoured to be unveiling plans for a new stadium.
Earlier this week Fernandes wrote on Twitter: “Excellent stadium meeting. Wow. Looks great. Going to make big announcement. Hopefully see Amit [Bhatia, vice-chairman] in a few hours to brief him. Wow.”
He later added: “Stadium will be in west London. Will not lose overall atmosphere. Lots to do and many pitfalls but great first step.”
First Published: Sunday, July 08, 2012, 08:22