Redknapp Set to Name Former Chelsea Defender as First QPR Signing – Report

Harry Redknapp is set to make his first signing as Queens Park Rangers manager as he prepares to offer a contract to free agent Tal Ben Haim.

The Daily Mail has reported that the former Bolton, Chelsea and Manchester City defender has been invited to train with QPR as Redknapp looks to find an immediate solution to bolstering his options in defence.

Ben Haim would be available to join the club immediately as he left struggling Portsmouth in the summer after finally settling a dispute over his wages and has since been solely playing international football for Israel.

The central defender featured in the 4-0 defeat to Russia back in September and has been training with a number of Israeli clubs over the past few months in order to maintain his fitness.

However, it seems he favours a return to the Premier League and is hoping to impress Redknapp enough to earn a contract with the struggling London club.

QPR are still rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table after the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa last weekend, which meant that they have now failed to win any of their opening 15 games this season.

Redknapp has now overseen two draws since taking over from Mark Hughes but is keen to add some new faces to a squad which is badly underachieving considering the huge investment made by owner Tony Fernandes.

The Mail believes that Redknapp will assess the fitness of the defender over the coming weeks before offering him a permanent contract around the busy Christmas period.

Everton have already bolstered their options in recent weeks by offering a contract to Thomas Hitzelsperger and it seems as though QPR may look to go down the same route.

Ben Haim can operate in the centre of defence, or at right-back and would give Redknapp another experienced option in a back four which has conceded some 27 league goals this season.