By Ben Kosky QPR are poised to strengthen their forward line by signing Stoke striker Dave Kitson on loan until the end of the season. Rangers have been seeking a frontman with aerial presence for some time and Kitson, who is keen to return to the south-e

By Ben Kosky

QPR are poised to strengthen their forward line by signing Stoke striker Dave Kitson on loan until the end of the season.

Rangers have been seeking a frontman with aerial presence for some time and Kitson, who is keen to return to the south-east for family reasons, fits the bill.

The 29-year-old recently returned to the Britannia Stadium after a six-week loan with Middlesbrough - during which he netted the first goal in Boro's 5-1 thrashing of the Rs at Loftus Road.

But Kitson is resigned to leaving Stoke, where he faces an uphill task to dislodge the likes of Ricardo Fuller, Tuncay, James Beattie and Mamady Sidibe.

West Ham's initial interest in Kitson has cooled, while Reading - the club he helped fire into the Premier League in 2006 - would struggle to meet his wage demands.

Rangers are close to finalising a deal to sign another forward, Hull City's Daniel Cousin, who is currently at the Africa Cup of Nations with Gabon.

Cousin's Hull team-mate Caleb Folan - who was also recently on loan at Middlesbrough - has been a long-term transfer target of QPR sporting director Gianni Paladini, but has struggled with injury of late.

Kitson's Championship pedigree is impressive - he netted 46 goals in two and a half seasons with Reading after joining the Berkshire club from Cambridge United.

He found the step up to the Premier League harder, but still hit double figures as the Royals were relegated in 2008 and signed for Stoke in a �5.5m deal that summer.

More recently, the striker hit three goals in six appearances for Middlesbrough, but ruled out a permanent move to the Riverside due to his wife's work commitments in London.

Rangers are currently reshuffling their pack of strikers, with Heidar Helguson returning to his old club Watford for a second loan until the end of the season.

And unsurprisingly Alessandro Pellicori's QPR career has been cut short after just six months, 10 appearances (nine of them as substitute) and one goal, against Exeter in the Carling Cup.

Representatives of Serie B side Mantova met Pellicori in London this week and are expected to confirm the 28-year-old's move back to Italy on a free transfer.