Queens Park Rangers are close to taking Nancy midfielder Samba Diakite on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

 

Diakite had been on the verge of moving to Lyon, with Les Gones having reached an agreement with their Ligue 1 rivals recently.

 

The Mali man left for the African Cup of Nations however, without completing the move and English Premier League outfit QPR have jumped in to steal a march on Remi Garde’s men.

 

The defensive midfielder is expected to cost Mark Hughes’ side €4M if they wish to keep him beyond the end of the current campaign.

 

Diakite only made his Mali debut yesterday, in the country’s 1-0 win over Guinea.

 

The all-action midfielder is under contract with Nancy until 2014 and joined the Ligue 1 side in 2010.

 

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