Chris Ramsey has conceded Queens Park Rangers may be forced to cash-in on Charlie Austin this summer, with the 26-year-old still aiming for a spot in Roy Hodgson’s squad for next summer’s European Championships.
Austin has emerged as a target for a number of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Southampton and Everton, but it is Newcastle that are currently the bookies favourites to land the striker.
However, the Magpies are unprepared to match QPR’s £15million price-tag as Austin has just one year remaining on his current contract, but Chris Ramsey remains confident of someone meeting their valuation.
“We have to be realistic. It is unlikely he’ll stay. We want to keep him, but it’s unlikely,” Ramsey told talkSPORT.
“The club is in a financial position that it needs to recoup some money and I think for his ambitions he wants to keep playing in the Premier League to go to the Euros.”
He added: “We’ve been offered £12million and turned it down, so we’re looking for in excess of £15million. Goal-scoring is something you can’t coach, it’s just a habit that some people have.
“He’s aiming to go to a team that’s in the top half of the table. If he doesn’t, then he could stay.”
Though Newcastle only secured Premier League safety on the final day of last season, McClaren is targeting a top eight finish next season and hopes their ambition, as well as the chance to reunite with Steve Black, could tempt him to Tyneside.
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