Rio Ferdinand Faces Queens Park Rangers axe after just 6 Months

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand could be offloaded by Queens Park Rangers - in January.

Mirror Sport also understands QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has called Adel Taarabt’s representatives to back manager Harry Redknapp’s astonishing verbal attack on the 25-year-old, in which he branded the mercurial midfielder “three stone overweight”.

Ferdinand, who will be 36 next month, was dropped for Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool after failing to impress since his arrival on a free in the summer.

The former England defender was signed by Redknapp - despite opposition within the club - after being released by Manchester United in the summer.

It is now understood that those who were against his one-year, £35,000-a-week deal at the time feel they have been vindicated by Ferdinand’s below-par displays in the early weeks of the season.

Although Ferdinand has impressed insiders with his attitude and his work ethic in training, there remains a belief that the west London club should have invested in a younger player.

Rangers are now ready to reignite their interest in long-time target Rolando, a 29-year-old Portugal international centre-half at Porto.

They have also watched West Ham’s New Zealand international Winston Reid, who is in the final year of his contract.

Taarabt is furious at Redknapp's criticism - and has had photographs taken of his body in a bid to prove the Hoops boss wrong.

The club maintain, however, that his level of application has been unacceptable and that there is agreement between Redknapp and Fernandes on the issue.