QPR director of football Les Ferdinand has confirmed the club are considering making a new contract offer to Charlie Austin.
Rangers, who want £15m for the striker, discussed a new deal for him 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.
There is still every expectation that Austin, who recently turned 26, will leave before the start of the new season.
However, amid speculation linking him with several clubs, particularly Newcastle, 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.
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.
“It’s something that we’re considering at the moment,” Ferdinand said.
“Then we’d have put the ball back in Charlie’s court in terms of what he wants to do.”
Austin scored 18 goals last season and has netted a total of 36 in his two years at QPR.
On Thursday afternoon number of bookmakers suspended betting on him signing for Newcastle, but on Friday morning the Magpies had still not made an approach.
But Ferdinand added: “We all understand the situation – we’re not naive.
“After what he did last season, whether you have a two, three or four-year contract, if you score 18 goals in the Premier League there are people looking for British-based players.”
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This post was last modified on 17/07/2015
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Why have we waited this long to offer him a new improved contract anyway, Austin has said all along he will stay at rangers until the club tell him otherwise he should have been offered a new contract months ago, makes me wonder how much the club want to keep him
Not a chance on this earth he plays for England if he is playing in the Championship!! You're kidding yourself there! If he stays at QPR his England ambitions are all but over. QPR will end up selling him but probably for slightly less than the £15 million they want. Perhaps with a few add Ons or incentives to make it a decent fee for him. He's sure to leave though.
If Charlie could not get a game for England when the so called big boys (Sturridge, Kane, Wellbeck) were out injured there is very little chance he will get picked in the squad again unless he is playing for one of the top 6. I would offer him a new contract with the terms if we are not in the top 6 come January he can go for 15 million and if we are not promoted this season he can go for 12 million next Summer. If he wants to stay he will sign if not we know we can sell and plan to get in a replacement.
just got new season ticket for QPR would be nice to Charlie this season hope he stays not go to another club to warm the bench he will still play for England if he stays
With all due respect, why on earth would he consider signing a new contract at QPR having just won his first England cap and with Euro's next summer. Sound like a complete waster of paper to me.