QPR consider new Austin contract offer

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QPR are considering making a new contract offer to Charlie Austin.

Rangers discussed a new deal for the striker last season but accepted he would not re-sign while the club was on course to be relegated from the Premier League.

His departure seemed inevitable once relegation was confirmed, particularly after he won an England call-up.

Austin, who recently turned 26, is still expected to leave before the start of the new season.

However, amid speculation linking him with several clubs, QPR have not had any enquiries since rejecting a bid from Leicester – the first approach they had received for Austin despite numerous reports of interest from the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham and Southampton.

Austin has a year of his contract remaining, having signed a three-year deal when he moved to west London from Burnley in 2013.

By not signing an improved contract, he missed out on a substantial pay increase.

Rangers believe another offer to Austin could address this while still leaving the door open to an eventual move and, crucially, protecting the club from potentially losing him for a knockdown fee in January or no fee at all were he to see out his current contract.

Austin scored 18 goals last season and has netted a total of 36 in his two years at QPR.

On Thursday afternoon a number of bookmakers suspended betting on him signing for Newcastle, but the Magpies had still not made an approach.

QPR want £15m for him and director of football Les Ferdinand this week insisted the club would not reduce the asking prices for Austin and winger Matty Phillips.

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