Wednesday 12 August 2015 14:01, UK
Queens Park Rangers have opened talks with Charlie Austin about a new contract, according to Sky sources.
It is understood that if the 26-year-old England international does not move to a Premier League in this window then the club will push ahead with offering a new deal.
Austin has been reported by English newspapers as being the subject of interest from Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham over the course of the summer.
Sky sources understand that Austin will not leave Loftus Road unless a prospective buyer meets his £15m valuation and Leicester are so far the only club that have tested Rangers’ resolve with a £12m offer.
In July, Rangers’ director of football Les Ferdinand admitted a new deal for Austin, which they hope would protect the club from losing the player for a knockdown price in January, is "something that we’re considering".
Ferdinand said: "Then we’d have put the ball back in Charlie’s court in terms of what he wants to do. We all understand the situation - we’re not naive.
"After what he did last season, whether you have a two, three or four-year contract, if you score 18 goals in the Premier League there are people looking for British-based players."
Austin signed for Rangers from Burnley in August 2013 after scoring 45 goals in 90 appearances for the Clarets.
He was instrumental when QPR won promotion to the Premier League in 2013-14, and has scored 38 goals for the club in all competitions.
