QPR boss Harry Redknapp is excited by the prospect of getting Rio Ferdinand through the door at Loftus Road.
The released Manchester United defender met with Redknapp yesterday and is set to accept a massive drop on his previous wages to move to the Rs.
"Rio has always been a class act and signing a player like him will give the whole place a lift," said Redknapp. "He's never been a greedy lad and this deal is not about money. He's still desperate to play in the Premier League and it will help that we've worked together in the past. I've always loved him as a player ever since he first started training with us at West Ham as a 14-year-old.
"Getting a deal like this done reminds me of when I signed Teddy Sheringham at Portsmouth. The standards were lifted and he was somebody everyone looked up to.
"The coaches and the younger players all learned off him and he was a massive influence. I can see Rio at QPR doing what Teddy did for me at Portsmouth."
