Divisive QPR player most likely made his final appearance at Loftus Road: Look at
Under Marti Cifuentes, Osman Kakay may be one of the players that departs Queens Park Rangers this summer.
With their recent improvement since Cifuentes’ hiring at the end of October, the R’s appear safe from relegation.
With two games remaining, they are four points clear of the bottom after losing only three of their previous twelve games. A victory over Leeds United at home on Friday will ensure their survival.
Because of QPR’s excellent play since Cifuentes took over, supporters are eager to see what the summer may bring under the Spaniard’s leadership, as a team revamp is anticipated.
Osman Kakay, a right defender, appears to be among the players who will most likely go in the summer.
This season, Osman Kakay’s playing time has been restricted by Marti Cifuentes.
Kakay joined the club when he was eight years old and progressed through all of the youth levels until making his debut in the main squad in 2016.
The international player from Sierra Leone went on loan to Chesterfield and Livingston and Partick Thistle in Scotland in order to acquire experience.
However, he didn’t really start to contribute to the first squad until the 20/21 season, when he made 28 appearances in the Championship.
With the exception of the 21–22 season, when Mark Warburton temporarily put him out of favor, he has participated in over 20 league games every season since 2020.
Under Ainsworth, Kakay began the current season as the first choice right defender; but, after Cifuentes was appointed, he has only made nine league games.
The 26-year-old hasn’t played in the league for the R’s since December, and he hasn’t been included in the starting lineup since New Year’s Day. Cifuentes has been favoring Jimmy Dunne, Reggie Cannon, and Aaron Drewe at right back in recent months.
Perhaps Osman Kakay’s final game wearing a QPR shirt has already been played.
Given that Kakay doesn’t appear to be in Cifuentes’ plans, a summer exit appears very plausible.
Kakay’s contract is due to expire in the summer, and it appears that there won’t be much of an effort to extend it until the end of the current season based on his exclusion from match-day teams in 2024.
Kakay’s last minutes earlier this month may have been influenced by competition for spots, as Cifuentes hinted when he said, “Well, when you look at the squad and the selections over the last weeks, it’s obviously the case.”
It’s not directed towards Ozzie. For a long time, I won’t be the one making judgments on his actions at the club. He has demonstrated that he is an extremely skilled player.
“But it’s clear that there is fierce competition to be the starting right full-back in the team.”
Due to his lack of playing time, he was even named in the development squad earlier this month, participating in a 7-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra.
However, Kakay has always been a contentious character in the fan community, with many believing he isn’t skilled enough to play for the first team.
All signs point to Kakay departing his childhood team at the end of the current campaign, which will be a sad conclusion for a player who had so much promise while still a member of the team.