QPR boss Stephan tight-lipped on Kone speculation

Queens Park Rangers head coach Julien Stephan would not be drawn on transfer rumours linking his side with a move for Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone.

The Frenchman was speaking after the Rs surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Plymouth Argyle in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

The Hoops sold last season's League One top scorer Charlie Kelman to Charlton Athletic last month and have sent Alfie Lloyd on loan to Leyton Orient.

Now reports have linked the club with 22-year-old Kone, who scored 21 goals for the Chairboys last season.

But when asked by BBC Sport whether fans could expect to see the young Ivorian wearing QPR colours this season, the former Rennes boss said:

"I want to speak about the QPR players and I can't do anything else so if you want to speak about [Rumarn] Burrell, [Rayan] Kolli and [Emmerson] Sutton, the striker, we can speak.

"I can't speak because it's not QPR's player."

• Charlton Athletic sign QPR striker Kelman
• Orient sign QPR striker Lloyd on loan
• Frenchman Stephan takes over at QPR

First-half goals from Daniel Bennie and Kolli put the Rs 2-0 up at half-time at Home Park.

But Brendan Wiredu's headed goal halved the deficit inside three minutes of the restart before an Owen Oseni double completed the turnaround for the hosts.

Stephan gave full debuts to Jaiden Putman, Tylon Smith, Alex Wilkie and Jaylan Pearman, as well as introducing Kalen Brunson, Ashley Trujillo, Teddy Tarbotton and Cian Dillon off the bench for their first appearances for the club.

"It was a good opportunity to show the young players, or the very young players, and to give them some experience," Stephan said.

"And if we never put the young players on the pitch, it's not possible for them to have this experience. So, yeah, I think they learn a lot in this game. And they learn also that we need to be focused 100% every time."