Warnock hopes to keep Taarabt

Taarabt: The QPR captain was a target of PSG earlier in the summer

Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock has reiterated that he does not want to sell star man Adel Taarabt.

Ahead of a first game of the season against Bolton on Saturday, the £12million-rated playmaker is key to hopes of staying in the Premier League.

Taarabt was a target of Paris Saint Germain and Warnock is still unsure if his mercurial captain will still be at Loftus Road come the end of August.

However, the QPR boss is intrigued by the challenge of drawing the best from him in the Premier League.

"It would be disappointing to see him go, but far easier for a manager to deal with," he said.

Enigma

"This is the only club for him in England. It's whether anyone comes in for him from abroad that's prepared to buy him.

"It's unlikely that clubs will want him because he's not proved himself in the Premier League. He's a top Championship player with a lot of ability.

"He takes the limelight away from some of the other players who have great ability as well and that gives them a chance to shine.

"Most teams double or treble up on him. Yes, he's an enigma at times, but all top players are like that when they do what he does.

"Since he was a kid he plays how he plays. I don't think he'll change, but he is learning what we expect of him in certain situations.

"He was close to leaving, he had talks with PSG. I thought he was gone at one point."