Norwich City are hoping to sign QPR midfielder Chris Willock whether they’re promoted or not, according to reports from transfer guru Alan Nixon.

The 26-year-old, who came through the Arsenal academy system when Canaries sporting director Ben Knapper was their loan manager, is out of contract this summer and available on a free transfer.

Willock was first linked with Norwich back in 2019 after their title-winning promotion to the Premier League, joining the Hoops a year later after loan spells with West Brom and Huddersfield Town.

He’s impressed under Marti Cifuentes, scoring four goals and claiming four assists in 39 appearances this term as Rangers have gone from relegation favourites to finishing 18th in the Championship.

Asked about Willock's contractual situation last month, Cifuentes said: "He knows how much we rate him, and I think he knows how much we like him.

"But what is going to happen in the future I don’t know. What is sure is that he showed (against Preston) that he loves this club and that he wanted to play here and help us."

Knapper and head coach David Wagner have been open about City's aim to lower the age profile of their squad in the summer, with big changes likely whether they're successful in the play-offs or not.

Five first-team players' contracts will expire this summer as things stand, while interest in key players including Gabriel Sara and Jonathan Rowe is thought to be high.

Knapper was open about the opportunity the off-season window provides him to mould the Norwich squad when asked about it in February, saying:  "The summer is naturally the window where you are more able to do more. There is more opportunity and the market is typically a little bit easier to navigate.

"Trying to find value is generally easier as well. We know that we have players out of contract and there is going to be some turnover in the summer and we want to continue with some of the strategic directions that I would like to take the group in.

"We're working hard to build a plan and we will be going into that window with the goal of continuing what we have started."