Stoke City and QPR have entered the race to sign midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes according to Football Insider. 

It had previously been reported that a number of clubs including Portsmouth, Hull and Blackpool were also interested in striking an agreement with the 21-year-old.

Doyle-Hayes is currently a free-agent having left Aston Villa in the summer, having failed to make the breakthrough to the club's first-team.

He had spells out on loan with both Cheltenham Town and Cambridge United earlier in his career, and it appears as though he's a player attracting significant interest as we approach the latter stages of the summer transfer window.

A move to QPR or Stoke could tempt Doyle-Hayes though, with both clubs looking to challenge for a top-six finish in the Championship this season.

QPR are currently sat 11th in the second-tier standings, whilst Stoke are in 15th position after the opening three matches of this year's league campaign.

It isn't clear as to which club is leading the race to sign Doyle-Hayes, as teams look to strengthen their options for the 2020/21 season.

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The Verdict: 

He could be a solid addition to have in their squads.

Doyle-Hayes will be eager to play at the highest possible level, and you have to imagine that Stoke and QPR will fancy their chances of beating League One clubs to agreeing a deal to sign the midfielder.

I'm not sure he'd get the regular game time he's after in the Championship though, and he'd only be used on a rotational basis, so perhaps a move to a club in the third-tier would suit him best.

If he can get back to his best though and make a name for himself, then I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing in the Championship in the coming seasons.