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16 May 2012 10:28:13
Neil Warnock looks set to renew his interest in left-back Clint Hill following Queens Park Rangers’ successful fight against relegation.
The Leeds United manager could move in for Hill after QPR secured a second year in the Premier League on the final weekend of the season.
Hill, pictured left, has been a fixture in Rangers’ line-up during the past nine months and started their last league game away to Manchester City on Sunday but the London club are likely to listen to offers for him as they set about rebuilding their own squad.
Warnock took Hill to Loftus Road in the summer of 2010 and used him throughout QPR’s Championship title-winning campaign.
The pair also worked together at Crystal Palace, where Warnock signed Hill from Stoke City, and the versatile defender appears to be on Warnock’s radar again.
QPR manager Mark Hughes, who replaced Warnock at Loftus Road earlier in the year, promised major changes to his squad after narrowly staving off relegation.
“The club wasn’t ready for the Premier League but we are moving very quickly,†Hughes said. “There’s no way we’ll be in this situation again in my time here.â€Â
A new left-back is among Leeds’ many requirements after a campaign in which the position changed hands several times.
Darren O’Dea, Aidan White and Danny Pugh were all fielded on the left side of defence before Warnock signed Paul Robinson on loan from Bolton Wanderers at the beginning of March.
The experienced Robinson, who is at the end of his contract at Bolton, came to Elland Road with a view to a permanent deal but Warnock chose not to pursue the signing despite Robinson making nine league starts.
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Hill, 33, was yesterday named the players’ player and fans’ player of the year at Rangers.
Hill could now be invited to join a United backline which began to take shape with the recent capture of centre-back Jason Pearce.
Leeds remain in the running for the signature of Portsmouth’s Joel Ward, a £400,000 target, with Warnock looking to conclude the deal before the week is out.
The United boss is following through with his promise to pursue quick signings in the summer transfer window and is he one of a number of managers looking closely at out-of-contract Derby County midfielder Paul Green.