Queens Park Rangers head into the international break in the eighth and final play-off spot in the Championship, as Julien Stephan looks to cement his side's place in the top third of the league throughout the course of the campaign.

QPR have quietly emerged as serious play-off contenders in the first third of the Championship season, as, with six wins, six draws, and three defeats in the opening 15 games, the R's have looked a tricky opponent.

The West London outfit managed to avoid any major losses over the summer whilst drastically improving the squad for pennies, bringing in the likes of Dennis Cirkin, Tariq Lamptey, Glenn Kamara, Boy Kemper, and Pierce Charles.

The play-offs look to be a real prospect this season, though that may not have been the case had they lost one of their key assets amid Premier League interest.

Rumarn Burrell attracted interest from Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer

25-year-old striker Rumarn Burrell joined QPR for around £1 million in the summer of 2025 from League One Burton Albion, having scored 11 and assisted twice in 30 third-tier games for the Brewers.

Spending time with Grimsby Town, Middlesbrough, Bradford City, Kilmarnock, Falkirk, and Cove Rangers before his one season with Burton, Burrell has gone from strength to strength at Loftus Road, scoring ten and assisting three in 30 Championship games in his first season in the English capital.

The Jamaican international has not gone under the radar as QPR would have hoped, as, according to FootballInsider, the likes of Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and AFC Bournemouth were monitoring his situation over the summer.

However, no bid was officially confirmed to have been launched, as Burrell remained at Loftus Road; now, those clubs may be breathing sighs of relief.

Rumarn Burrell has struggled for form so far this season at Queens Park Rangers

After an excellent first six months in West London, Burrell, not long after finding the back of the net against Sheffield Wednesday in January 2026, was ruled out for over three months and didn't make his return until April. By that point, there was not much of the season to go, as QPR's play-off prospects faded in his absence.

This season, Burrell has remained an almost ever-present in the R's lineup, but with just two goals in eight league appearances thus far, both coming at home against Cardiff City in a 2-1 victory, he hasn't quite hit the heights hoped for him.

Now, Burrell has been absent since the last international break in mid-September after suffering an injury on international duty with Jamaica, and upon his return to fitness, will need to work his way back into the fold, especially with Richard Kone looking to have found his shooting boots.

Time is more on Burrell's side to justify exactly why Premier League interest ever emerged in the first place, as it wasn't too long ago that Football League World's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, made an eight-figure claim on the Jamaican.

Queens Park Rangers fan pundit previously claimed a '£10 million' on Rumarn Burrell

"I do think it’s a bit too early in his career to talk about Premier League football, Burrell,” Moir told Football League World.

"He’s not had a full season with us in the Championship, and I’d be shocked if he was to leave.

"Of course, clubs are going to be interested in loads of players, but whether they actually make a move or put in the money that would probably make us willing to accept, you’re going to be talking £10 million or so, around that price range for a player who has impressed.

"[He was] unfortunate to get injured, but if it wasn’t for getting injured, who knows how many goals he’d be on? He’s had a cracking first season with us in the Championship.

"If he does well with us again next season, there could be even more interest, but I’d be baffled really if he was to go to the Premier League so soon in his career.

"I just can’t see it at all; it would take a lot of money, around £10 million or so."

Despite Burrell not quite having the electric start to the season as QPR supporters would have hoped, his value won't have decreased too much, and the R's will surely remain firm in their stance on the forward.

Whether he is worth an eight-figure fee at this stage remains to be seen, though what is certain is that he must start finding the back of the net with more consistency upon his return to the side to strengthen that claim, as both Sunderland and Wolves may feel as though they have dodged a bullet with this one.

How much do you think Burrell is worth right now? Have Sunderland and Wolves dodged a bullet in avoiding Burrell's addition? Share your thoughts below!

QPR look like real play-off contenders again, and having shown signs of challenging for the top six last time around, Stephan's side fell just short in his first year at the club.

This campaign, the former Strasbourg and Stade Rennes boss will have no intention of making any such mistake again, and will be imploring Burrell to hit some form sooner rather than later to maintain their play-off push.

It could be a historic year for QPR, and Burrell could be a crucial factor in it.