Newcastle United are finally set to launch an initial bid for premier striking target Charlie Austin within the next 48 hours. The Daily Mail claim that the Magpies will approach Queens Park Rangers and offer the west London club the £15 million fee they are after for the forward this weekend. Betting was suspended on Austin joining Newcastle United by the gambling wing of the Magpies preferred media partner, Sky Sports, on Thursday, heightening speculation that a bid was imminent. The long-protracted transfer saga of where the 26-year-old would end up this summer finally looks to be coming to an end, with Newcastle now firm favourites to acquire the forward. Yet West London Sport carry quotes from QPR director of football and former Magpie Les Ferdinand that the Championship side are "considering" making a fresh contract offer to Austin in order to keep him at Loftus Road. Newcastle have been battling the likes of Chelsea, AFC Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion, Southampton, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Aston Villa for the forwards signature this summer following QPRs relegation to the Championship - but the west London club have insisted they want upwards of £15 million for the forward. Leicester had a £12 million bid rejected last month but look set to return with a higher offer in the coming days, meaning the Magpies must bid a substantial fee to secure the forward. To date, Newcastle have been reluctant to match the £15 million fee QPR have demanded amid concerns over previous knee and shoulder injuries Austin has had in the past, as well as the fact he has just a year left on his QPR deal. However, with the Magpies £12.3 million move for Anderlecht forward Aleksandar Mitrovic dragging out for longer than expected, it seems the club may have acted upon their interest in Austin. Austin was the fourth-top scorer in the Premier League in 2014-15 having bagged an impressive 18 goals despite playing for a side who finished bottom of the table and he has just a year left on his Loftus Road deal. Newcastle need to add firepower to their strikeforce because they managed just 40 Premier League goals throughout the entirety of the previous campaign and top-scorer Papiss Cisses future at the club is in doubt, meaning they will have just Ayoze Perez, Adam Armstrong and the goal-shy Emmanuel Riviere as forwards next year. They have turned their attention to the highly-coveted Austin, who will want to remain in the Premier League - and that cannot be with QPR next season following their relegation. Austin has scored 107 goals in 199 league games for Swindon, Burnley and QPR since the beginning of 2010. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.