Newcastle United must be prepared to "bid big" if they want to secure Charlie Austin's signature this summer, his former boss Harry Redknapp claims. A whole host of Premier League clubs are chasing the Queens Park Rangers forward's signature and Leicester City have already had a £12 million bid turned down by the west London club. However, Newcastle hold reservations about Austin's previous injury record - he failed a medical at Hull City in 2013 and struggled with a shoulder problem 18 months ago - and they are reluctant to meet QPR's £15 million asking price. Redknapp insists the Magpies - or any other Premier League suitor, such as AFC Bournemouth, Leicester, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Southampton or Liverpool - will need to pay "big" if they do want Austin though. Speaking to Sky Sports, Redknapp said:
"Charlie has proved he can scored goals in the Premier League so it's going to take a big bid to shift him. "I think he's happy. He's obviously enjoyed his time at QPR - he's been a big success for them. "But if the right offer comes in - and it's got to be a good offer - reluctantly QPR may decide, and if Charlie really wants to play in the Premier League, to let him go. "QPR are not going to sell him cheap."
The 26-year-old wants to leave QPR following their relegation to the Championship and is intrigued by a potential move to St James Park. The striker is itching for a transfer and whatculture.com/nufc understands that Austin would welcome a transfer to Newcastle if Chelseas interest is not genuine - yet the Tyneside club could miss out due to their lack of urgency in making an official bid. 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.