Two clubs submitted bids for Charlie Austin, confirms Rangers' DOF

  • by Staff Writer
  • Monday, 17th August 2015

Queens Park Rangers Director of Football Les Ferdinand has admitted that QPR have received two firm bids for Charlie Austin.

Former striker Ferdinand, who spent four months at West Ham back in 2003 told BBC Sport that the Championship club had received two offers for the 26-year-old forward - although neither bid was sufficient to interest Rangers.

"There's been lots of rumours in the papers, but we've only had two firm bids," confirmed Ferdinand.

"I wouldn't say they've been turned down as we've spoken to the clubs, but they've not met the valuation the club have placed on Charlie. For that reason Charlie's still a Queens Park Rangers player."

Ferdinand also confirmed that QPR were looking for a fee in the region of £15million for Austin, who scored 18 times for Rangers last season despite their relegation from the Premier League.

"Being realistic, when you look at what Benteke and people like that have gone for - and that Blackburn have turned down a £13m bid for Jordan Rhodes in the Championship - I don't think we're pricing him out of the market," he added.

"I just think it's a true valuation of the player."

Despite neither interested party being willing to meet QPR's £15m valuation of Austin thus far, Ferdinand still expects there to be yet more twists and turns before the transfer window closes.

"You see a lot of transfers done in the last week of the season," he said. "I hope it doesn't happen but I'm gearing myself up for that. It's not a foregone conclusion that he will go, but the rumours won't stop until the transfer window closes."

West Ham have kept a close eye on Austin's situation since the end of last season but are currently unwilling to meet QPR's valuation, as a result of the player's history with injuries.

For David Sullivan and his team, investing such a large sum on a player with long-standing injury concerns is a risk they are unwilling to take at present, having already had their fingers burnt by the purchase of Andy Carroll who has made just 27 starts in his three years at the Boleyn Ground.

But with the transfer deadline rapidly approaching, and with West Ham still unable to attract the additional striker they so desperately need, that stance could yet soften.

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