Southampton land QPR’s Caulker on loan

London: Southampton have signed QPR’s England defender Steven Caulker on loan for the forthcoming season, the Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday.

Saints’ manager Ronald Koeman made his move for Caulker to fill the void in his defence left by Toby Alderweireld’s move to Tottenham and a serious knee injury sustained by Florin Gardos.

Caulker, who made his only England appearance in 2012, cost Southampton a “substantial undisclosed loan fee”, but it is believed the deal is not with a view to a permanent transfer to St Mary’s.

The 23-year-old centre-back only joined QPR last season from Cardiff and made 35 appearances as the west London club were relegated from the English top-flight.