TORONTO -- Queens Park Rangers have confirmed their interest in Toronto FC striker Jermain Defoe but denied reports that a deal is in place already.

"No, I don't think anything is anywhere near being concluded with Jermain," QPR manager Harry Redknapp told a news conference in London on Thursday when asked about Defoe. "Tony (Fernandes), the chairman, he's away.

"We tried to get Jermain before the (summer) deadline, so I don't think there is any movement on that one at the moment. I am a big fan of Jermain's. I've signed him enough times. He's a goalscorer and he's obviously a player that you would like at your club, if possible. But the figures would have to be right and everything. I haven't spoken to Tony about that yet."

Redknapp returned to the same theme when asked if he would like to get the deal done in the January transfer window.

"He is a player that I am sure we would be interested in, in January. But it depends on the expense of it all and everything else and what the deal is really. Only Tony would deal with that, the chairman, so it's up to him."

Redknapp said he had not talked to Defoe. The 32-year-old England striker played for Redknapp previously at Tottenham and Portsmouth.

Toronto turned down a club record transfer bid, believed to be from QPR, at the end of the summer transfer window. The club said at the end of the MLS season that it planned to talk to Defoe about his future, saying it only wants players who wants to be here.

And MLSE boss Tim Leiweke sounded a warning this week, saying any deal involving Defoe will have to be worth it for the MLS club and that any move will be at the behest of the team and not the player.

Leiweke also said if the team loses one of its designated players, "we already know who we're going after."

Defoe led Toronto with 11 goals this season despite missing 15 games through injury or suspension.

Toronto (11-15-8) failed to make the playoffs for an eighth straight year, despite setting club single-season records for wins (11) and points (41).

For his part, Defoe has said he likes Toronto and never asked publicly to leave. But he has been hazy over what lies ahead, saying only he can't predict the future.