QPR will have to battle Besiktas if they want to bring £3million rated Rafael van der Vaart back to London.

They will also have to convince the Dutch playmaker he won’t be involved in another relegation struggle like the one he’s just suffered with Hamburg.

van der Vaart and co escaped Bundesliga demotion by the skin of their teeth. But with one year left on his current contract, Get West London understands the man who thrilled Harry Redknapp when the two were at Tottenham is looking to tie up his financial future in what is set to be the last big pay-day of his career.

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Turkish giants Besiktas are interested, but the Dutchman, 31, would rather play for someone he likes and admires, and Harry has also made it plain he will only sign the tried and trusted.

“I’m not going to sign anybody I don’t want, no way. I’ll only sign players I know even if you can’t be 100 per cent sure,” was how the Rangers boss laid out the future after Rangers secured promotion via the Championship play-off final.

Redknapp is keen on what he calls ‘real number 10s’ - those who play in behind the striker. The manager was hoping that might be loanee Ravel Morrison, but the West Ham player drifted out of the scene right at the death as QPR won at Wembley.

van der Vaart suffered a calf injury in training last week that ruled him out of Holland’s World Cup bid, but is expected to be fit for pre-season.

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