Struggling Premier League club Queens Park Rangers may lose midfield target Yann M'Vila to Russian club Rubin Kazan. French newspaper L'Equipe believes the Stade Rennais FC star is close to a €11.5m (approximately £9.7m) move to the Russian Premier League.

Yann M'Vila (L)
Reuter

The report adds that the French club's general manager, Pierre Dreossi, is to meet with representatives of the Russian club on Monday to finalise the transfer. And M'Vila is expected to sign a four-year contract worth a minimum of €16m (approximately £13.4m).

Harry Redknapp's Rangers have already signed one Frenchman in this transfer window - striker Loic Remy from Ligue 1 club Olympique Marseille - and the ex-Tottenham boss was believed to be close to completing what may well have been a second transfer coup for Loftus Road club. Dreossi confirmed on Sunday that M'Vila may well have played in his last game for the French club, after the 22-year-old French international came off the bench in a 2-0 league win over Bastia.

Redknapp is believed to be hopeful the London club can still pull off the transfer but comments from L'Equipe, quoted by ESPN, suggest prolonged discussions between the French and the English club may have allowed Kazan to sneak in and hijack the move. In addition to QPR, the Mirror has also linked Tottenham to M'Vila.

Regardless of where he goes, Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti was understandably upset at the thought of losing M'Vila.

"It's always annoying when your best players go, and as he was starting to get back to his best it's very, very annoying," he said after the win against Bastia, adding, "It's a shame. But he's not gone yet. You are talking as if he's left already, but I don't know anything about it."

Rennes are fifth in Ligue 1, with 35 points from 21 games and they trail Nice, in the final qualifying position for European football next year, on goal difference.

Meanwhile, Redknapp, who saw new signing Remy score on his debut to lead the Rangers to a 1-1 draw at West Ham, says he is keen to pair Bobby Zamora and Remy up front. The 32-year-old Zamora is presently out injured with a hip problem but is expected to be fit soon.

"I fancy him [Rémy] and Zamora together," Redknapp said, "I've got to find a way of playing them two, and then Taarabt as well. It will give us a bit of attacking threat. Taarabt could play in a diamond, in behind. I'll find a way of playing trying to get the best out of them. If Bobby is fit it will make a big difference to us. I love him."

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