According to the BBC, Kilmarnock are in talks with QPR over the loan signing of Niko Hamalainen.
The left-back has been at Loftus Road for five years, but has spent plenty of time out on loan. His moves away from the London club include short stints with Dagenham & Redbridge and Los Angeles FC.
Hamalainen is a reported Killie target. (Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Now Angelo Alessio is in talks to bring him to Rugby Park. What is the American-born Finland international like though?
Hamalainen would be back-up for Kilmarnock star Greg Taylor
QPR fans themselves haven’t seen much of him, as he’s only made six appearances for the club. Loan spells haven’t granted him many minutes either, having made just five appearances out on loan at Dagenham and LAFC combined.
Over the course of his professional career, Hamalainen has made just 11 appearances, which isn’t great. His QPR deal expires next year too, so he needs to play to have any chance of winning an extension.
Minutes are needed. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
What attributes would he bring to Killie? The left-back is more defence-minded, with his key traits being strong tackling and having decent awareness.
His physical attributes let him down a bit though. Hamalainen isn’t particularly quick and isn’t the strongest player in the world either. In flashes at LAFC though, the 22-year-old did impress. He looked quite sharp and assured defensively.
During a match against Real Salt Lake, Hamalainen showed his attacking potential too. He used some pace to break into the middle of the park, setting up Walker Zimmerman for a finish that secured a 2-1 victory.
A brilliant strike than Hamalainen played a part in. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
There is a player in him somewhere and he did feature for QPR during pre-season. It shows they still rate him, although if he moves to Kilmarnock, he’ll be Greg Taylor’s deputy.
In brief appearances though throughout his career, Hamalainen has shown he has the potential to be a decent full-back. He would be decent cover for Taylor in the left-back position.