Newcastle's 18-Goal Striker Target Raises Doubts Over Whether He'll Move

Newcastle United remain in the hunt for Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin - despite the striker admitting he will be at Loftus Road next season "unless told otherwise". The 26-year-old forward flew out to QPR's pre-season training camp in Italy last week and it set to play in pre-season friendlies against AS Monaco and Al Ittihad over the coming days. QPR want £15 million for Austin but Newcastle are not willing to part with such a high figure for a player who has had both knee and shoulder trouble in the past, and who has just a year remaining on his Loftus Road deal. The Magpies are determined to keep the fee down to around £12 million.

And, when asked about his future, Austin admitted he was not close to leaving west London, despite interest from the likes of Chelsea, West Ham United, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth and the Magpies. Austin told QPR's official website:

"What€™s going on back at home is for other people to worry about. "That€™s for (director of football) Les (Ferdinand), (manager) Chris (Ramsey), my agent and (owner) Tony (Fernandes) to sort out. "For me, I'm here to get my head down and work as hard as I can, hopefully play in a couple of games whilst I€™m out here and prepare for Charlton (Athletic) on (August) the 8th. "Until I'm told otherwise, I'm a QPR player and I'm preparing for the Championship next year, and if I'm told otherwise, then so be it."

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.