Wolves have made the QPR manager, Michael Beale, their top target after deciding against a return to Molineux for Nuno Espírito Santo and being turned down by Julen Lopetegui. Beale only took over at Loftus Road in June after leaving his post as assistant to Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa and has the club firmly in contention for promotion to the Premier League following an impressive start. No official approach has been made for Beale, but Wolves hope to have him in place for Sunday’s match at home to their fellow strugglers Leicester. Wednesday’s 3-0 victory at home to Cardiff saw QPR go top of the Championship in Beale’s 16th game as a manager. “It would be hard to walk away from QPR right now, and especially this young group,” the 42-year-old told Sky Sports after the match. Beale accepted it will be “a big 24 hours” for himself and for the club as he prepares for talks with the Wolves hierarchy. The manager has a release clause at Loftus Road which is not believed to be prohibitive so completing the deal should be straightforward for Wolves, who admire the style he has imposed at QPR and consider him one of the country’s most exciting young coaches. The 42-year-old is in his first job as a manager and has previously coached at Rangers and São Paulo. Beale learned Portuguese during his stint in Brazil is a bonus for Wolves given that 11 of their first-team squad speak Portuguese as their first language. The prospective appointment of Beale marks a move away from clients of the Jorge Mendes agency. Bruno Lage, who was sacked this month, and Nuno are in the Mendes stable, as is Lopetegui, who rejected Wolves’ offer in order to stay closer to his elderly father in Spain. Wolves held talks with Nuno, who was keen on returning to the job he left in May 2021, but the club decided to go in a different direction. Steve Davis has been in caretaker charge and Tuesday’s defeat at Crystal Palace could have been his final match before he likely returns to his role as coach of the under-18s.