Newcastle Transfer News: Toon "Table £14m" Bid For 18-Goal Forward

Newcastle United have already started negotiations with Queens Park Rangers over the signing of Charlie Austin and have even tabled a £14 million bid, according to reports. The Magpies look set to do battle with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa for the forward€™s signature this summer following QPR€™s relegation to the Championship - and The Express claim Newcastle have already placed their opening offer. QPR want upwards of £15 million for the forward and, if this newspaper report is to be believed, then the Magpies have gone close to matching that valuation early on with their opening bid - although Sky Sports claim the west London club have received no offers for Austin yet.

The 25-year-old is understood to be reluctant to move to the North East as he is keen to remain in London, where is settled with his fiancée and young child, although he could be tempted if he is offered the iconic black-and-white No 9 shirt. 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 Cisse€™s 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.