QPR STRIKER REMY DROPPED AS CHELSEA CLOSE IN

Loic Remy was left out of QPR's squad to face Sunderland on Saturday after Chelsea triggered the £8.5m release clause in the striker's contract.

Loic Remy: QPR drop striker as Chelsea trigger release clause

The France international, 27, was due to be named in QPR's starting line-up at Loftus Road but Chelsea's offer, tabled at about 12:00 BST, forced manager Harry Redknapp into a change.

It is understood Remy offered to play but Redknapp decided to leave him out.

"The deal looks like it has been done, so I had to make a change," he said.

Remy scored 14 goals in 26 Premier League appearances for Newcastle last season

"He was in the team. I just got a phone call about 12 o'clock to say it looks like he is going to be moving.

"He didn't refuse to play, but it's difficult to go out there to play and get your head around it."

He would arrive at Chelsea as the replacement for Fernando Torres, who is in Italy to finalise a two-year loan move to AC Milan.

Remy spent last season on loan at Newcastle, where he made 26 Premier League appearances and scored 14 goals.

He was due to sign for Liverpool in an £8.5m deal in July but it collapsed after reports of a failed medical.

BBC Sport