QPR sign Zarate on loan

London - Queens Park Rangers announced on Tuesday that they have signed Argentine forward Mauro Zarate on loan from Premier League rivals West Ham United until the end of the season.

Zarate, 27, has made only eight appearances for West Ham since signing from Velez Sarsfield during the close season, scoring twice. He could make his QPR debut away to Burnley on Saturday.

"I am happy," Zarate said in a statement on the QPR website.

"I need this, I need to play and Queens Park Rangers have given me this chance to show what I can do.

"I will try to do different things with the ball, some skills to make the difference for the team, for me and for the other players. I am fit and I hope I can be involved on Saturday."

QPR manager Harry Redknapp said: "We're really pleased to bring Mauro in. He's a good footballer, someone with great ability who can play as a number 10.

"I first saw him when he was on loan at Birmingham quite a few years back and I actually tried to take him to Portsmouth back then.

"He's a more than capable player, he's already shown that, and hopefully he can come in here and do well for us."

QPR are currently two points and two places above the Premier League relegation zone following a run of three games without victory.