Newcastle United are expected to make a formal move for Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin later this week.
The Rs are expected to lose their star-asset over the summer after suffering relegation from the Premier League once again, and Austin is a wanted man in the top-flight.
Southampton, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea are just four clubs monitoring the England international, but it’s Newcastle and Leicester City who are making initial moves.
The Foxes had a formal £12million bid rejected by QPR last week, and have informed interested parties their intentions to sell the striker, but only for £15m.
It’s not yet understood whether Leicester will make a new and improved second bid for the 26-year-old, but it’s thought Newcastle could make their first move.
Austin scored 18 goals last season in the Premier League, only bettered by Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa, and new manager Steve McClaren is desperate to add a goalscorer to his Newcastle side.
McClaren is hoping he can lure Austin to St James Park after briefly working with his at Loftus Road when he was a coach for Harry Redknapp earlier in the season.
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt