QPR boss Mark Hughes acknowledged his interest in Diakite on Friday and the 23-year-old, currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty, has been given permission by Mali coach Alain Giresse to travel to England to finalise his move to Loftus Road.
Lyon had been interested in signing Diakite, who can also play in defence, but the player has opted for a switch to the Premier League.
"Alain Giresse, coach of Mali, agreed that Samba could go to England to complete his loan," Nancy president Jacques Rousselot said in L'Equipe.
"It will be a loan with an option to buy if QPR are still in the Premier League at the end of the season."
A fee of €4million (£3.4m) has been agreed between the clubs should QPR decide to sign Diakite on a permanent basis over the summer.
He will help to fill the void created by the injury to Alejandro Faurlin, and Hughes has not ruled out further captures before the close of the transfer window having already signed Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo.
