Queens Park Rangers have warned potential suitors that they must be prepared to splash the cash if they want to prise Charlie Austin away from Loftus Road this summer.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League, netting 17 times in 34 appearances, but, after sealing their relegation to the Championship last Sunday, QPR appear resigned to losing their top scorer this summer. A number of Premier League clubs are reportedly interested in signing the English striker, with Newcastle and Southampton leading the chase.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced claiming Newcastle were readying a £10million bid for the former-Burnley man but, in an interview with talkSPORT, QPR’s director of football Les Ferdinand had this to say on the matter of Charlie Austin departing the Rs this summer: “We would love to keep Charlie Austin at QPR.”
“When I was playing at this football club with Andy Sinton and Trevor Sinclair, if they had a good season, because of the size of the club, people are going to come in for them. It’s the same with Charlie. It’s up to us to try and keep the wolves from the door but you’re never going to stop them from knocking and coming in.
“He’s had a fantastic debut season in the Premier League, scoring 17 goals, and he’s missed two penalties. So, it should be 19 goals! People will want to keep him in the division, goalscorers are a premium. What’s he worth? When you look at some of the players who have moved like Sergio Aguero, and I’m not putting him in their class because they’ve done it year-in and year-out but someone scoring 17 goals in this division you’re looking at £15-20million at least.”
