Queens Park Rangers have opened up new contract negotiations with Charlie Austin, according to Sky Sports. The 26-year-old has been reported all summer as being the subject of interest from Newcastle United and labelled as their 'top transfer target'. It is understood that if the England international does not move to a Premier League in this window then the club will offer their striker - who played in QPR's 2-0 opening day defeat against Charlton at the weekend - a new deal. Sky Sports sources understand that Austin will not leave Loftus Road unless a prospective buyer meets his £15m valuation and the Magpies are yet to offer that. The Daily Express claimed that if the Tyneside club were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the Queens Park Rangers forward, they will instead turn their attentions to 22-year-old Diego Rolan. WhatCulture.com/NUFC revealed last month that Newcastle have offered £13 million plus a fringe player - with Haris Vuckic and Gael Bigirimana on the list - to QPR for Austin, but it seems that offer was rejected. 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.
NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.
