Keane on QPR’s radar

Robbie Keane could be on his way to Queen’s Park Rangers and a reunion with Harry Redknapp after the former Tottenham manager admitted he is interested in taking the Ireland captain on loan.

Redknapp is desperate for goals and leadership as his new charges strive to get off the bottom of the Premier League, and knows Keane, who helped LA Galaxy win the MLS title last week, fits the bill on both counts.

The Dubliner is available for a short-term loan until the MLS restarts in March, and Redknapp is hoping Keane can help QPR the way he assisted Aston Villa’s escape from danger last Christmas.

Keane scored three goals during a short loan spell at Villa Park at the start of the year, and the then manager Alex McLeish and his team-mates paid tribute to his presence off the pitch as much as on it.

“Robbie is a great influence in the dressing room, always talking and encouraging the young lads,” said Stephen Ireland last January.

Redknapp believes Keane can have the same impact at QPR, who are seven points short of the safety zone. The manager will meet the club’s owner Tony Fernandes next week for the first time since taking over from Mark Hughes last month, and admits he does not know whether he will be able to make permanent signings or have to make do with loan deals in January’s transfer window.

“I don’t know if money is available, and we’ll probably be looking at loans, but which club is going to lend you top players? It’s hard. The MLS is interesting, though. I think that’s a market we’ve got to look at,” said Redknapp.

“Robbie’s a good shout, an interesting player. I haven’t spoken to him yet but he would be ideal.”

Keane was an irregular starter at Spurs, where Redknapp re-signed the striker after his short and ill-fated move to Liverpool. Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch were often preferred by Redknapp, who sent Keane out on loan to Celtic and West Ham before his move to LA Galaxy.