Southampton urged to pursue Moroccan star's signing likened to Adel Taarabt

Southampton have been urged to sign QPR club hero Ilias Chair, who has been drawn into comparisons with EFL legend Adel Taarabt multiple times in his career.

The March international break comes at a critical juncture for Southampton before the final stretch of the campaign. While it gives the players a breather, it offers the management a chance to begin planning for next season.

From Southampton’s perspective, the ideal way to end the season would be with Premier League promotion. If the Saints fall short this time, next season will require a stronger push for automatic promotion from day one.

Needless to say, Southampton needs to be prepared for the latter possibility. In that regard, a transfer suggestion from Football League World could prove valuable for the club ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to FLW, Southampton should closely monitor QPR star Ilias Chair’s transfer situation. If the attacker decides to leave Loftus Road this summer, the Saints should seriously consider adding him to their ranks for the winger role.

Southampton’s current wing roles situation

Southampton’s deep squad appears to have plenty of options for the wing roles. But a closer look reveals a far more complicated story than it seems on the surface.

Starting from the left wing, Léo Scienza has been a blockbuster signing for the Saints and will be the club’s priority choice. On the other hand, Samuel Edozie’s future looks uncertain despite some impressive cameos.

Southampton have waited patiently for Edozie for around four years. While he’s shown improvement, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the club finally moved on given his contract expires next summer.

On the right flank, Southampton have a proven Championship option in Tom Fellows, alongside the in‑form Kuryu Matsuki. But with Matsuki needed as cover for Fin Azaz, there’s room to add a natural winger to Tonda Eckert’s squad.

If the Saints remain in the Championship next season, the option of Ilias Chair becomes lucrative to add creativity and depth to the wide ranks.

Ilias Chair’s EFL career at QPR

Despite being 28, Ilias Chair has spent virtually his entire English career at QPR. With over 250 appearances for the club, he’s been a mainstay at Loftus Road for the better part of a decade.

Ilias Chair’s consistency in the Championship has been exceptional. The winger recorded five consecutive seasons of 10+ goal contributions for QPR during 2019-2024. But fitness concerns over the past year have left him at a crossroads in his career.

After a recurring injury last season, the ongoing 2025/26 campaign has seen even less involvement from Ilias Chair. Given his fitness struggles, the winger won’t hesitate to mark a fresh start with a summer move.

If that happens, Southampton should consider Chair for his proven quality in the Championship. Coming off an injury‑affected campaign, he could be a low‑cost, effective option for the club’s wing roles.

And if the Saints achieve their Premier League return, they could even resell him at a higher price down the line.

Ilias Chair’s Adel Taarabt comparisons

While Chair’s Championship numbers say enough of his attacking prowess, it must be noted that his talent has drawn comparisons with EFL hero Adel Taarabt.

For the record, Taarabt remains the best foreign player to grace the Championship in the 21st century. Having recorded a phenomenal 2011/12 season with 19 goals and 21 assists to his name, he remains the only player to record 15+ assists and goals in a single campaign.

With Ilias Chair being a fellow Moroccan and a QPR hero, the attacker has been compared to Taarabt multiple times in his career.

Back in 2019, Chair acknowledged such comparisons, saying, “He’s a different kind of footballer to me, but I don’t turn down those kind of comparisons. He is a showboater, and an unbelievable one at that. I have to say it would be a dream come true to play with Taarabt for Morocco.”

While Chair eventually accomplished his dream of playing alongside Taarabt for the national side in WC 2022 qualifiers, the Premier League remains the one dream still to fulfil. A move to Southampton could see both Chair and the Saints realise that dream together.