This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

QPR are reportedly keen on Aston Villa full-back Neil Taylor, who is set to become a free agent. 

The 32-year-old left-back is out of contract with Villa at the end of the season and, according to The Sun, both the R's and Stoke City are keen, while there is also competition from Istanbul Basaksehir and Trabzonspor.

But would he be a good signing? And is he needed?

We quizzed our FLW writers on just that...

George Dagless

I think it could be a really smart signing, yes.

Perhaps he's not the player he was when he came in at Swansea and helped them into the Premier League but he's got good experience and would be a more than solid option in the Championship.

He's a player that I certainly see doing well under Mark Warburton in that left-wing-back role and I think in him and Lee Wallace down that side QPR have two good options, given Wallace's form in the second half of the season.

For me, this perhaps suggests the end of Niko Hamalainen's time at QPR and I think that could be best for him, too, as he needs to find a club and a level where he can be playing regular football now.

Chris Thorpe

I think Taylor needs to resurrect his career and for that reason alone, a move to QPR would make a lot of sense for the Welshman.

He’s experienced at both Premier and Football League level and would be a smart addition for Warburton to make as he continues to build a good squad in West London.

The main stumbling block of this deal could be the wages, so Taylor may have to take a cut in order to facilitate this happening.

Overall he’d be a good signing and I would say he’s needed as he will add yet another option on the left hand side of defence.

Ben Wignall

I'm not sure if I was a QPR fan I'd want two left-backs who were over the age of 30.

Lee Wallace has been solid and dependable in the second half of the 2020/21 season but surely if Mark Warburton is going to bring in some competition for the Scot then it will be someone a bit younger.

Taylor is a solid player and would fit in well back in the Championship where you'd expect him to get more game-time, however I think a few other clubs in the division rather than the Hoops need an experienced left-back more.

In my eyes, QPR should either develop Niko Hamalainen more to be the rotational option to Wallace or if Warburton doesn't think he's good enough then search for someone in their early 20's who can be Wallace's successor next season.