QPR defer Austin contract talks

QPR have deferred talks with Charlie Austin over a potential new contract for the striker.

Rangers director of football Les Ferdinand confirmed in July that the club were considering making another offer of a new deal to Austin in the event of him staying at Loftus Road beyond the summer transfer window.

And with the deadline having passed, there has been speculation over a possible offer from the club and Austin’s supposed demands.

Preliminary discussions have taken place since the transfer window closed but the Rangers hierarchy believe the best approach is to give the player time to focus on his game following months of intense speculation about his future.

Austin, 26, is in the final year of his contract, having signed a three-year deal when he moved to west London from Burnley in 2013.

He opted to keep his options open rather than sign new terms last season as QPR were heading for relegation from the Premier League.

That meant he missed out on a substantial pay increase. A revised contract offer could address this while still leaving the door open to an eventual move and, crucially, protecting the club from losing him on a free transfer were he to see out the remainder of his contract.

Austin scored 18 goals last season and has netted a total of 42 in his two years at QPR, with four of them coming this term.

Rangers this week averted the possibility of losing skipper Nedum Onuoha on a free transfer.

The defender, who was also in the final year of his contract, agreed a two-year extension.