Manchester United favourites to sign Charlie Austin

The majority of bookmakers have installed Manchester United as the odds-on favourites to sign Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin before tomorrow's 6pm deadline.

If, as expected, Javier Hernandez is to complete his transfer to Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen today, that would leave United manager Louis van Gaal with Wayne Rooney as the only senior centre-forward option at Old Trafford.

Reports in France over the last few hours have linked the Red Devils with Monaco striker Anthony Martial, but it is believed that the Ligue 1 club have rebuffed an initial approach for the 19-year-old.

Instead, according to Oddschecker, the likes of Sky Bet, BetFred, Bet Victor and Ladbrokes have suggested that Austin could be the man to bolster Van Gaal's striking ranks, with some odds that the move will be completed as short as 4/6. Yesterday, the 26-year-old was 33/1 to make the switch.

Austin, who is said to be valued at £15m by QPR, scored 18 goals in the Premier League last year and has four to his name in the Championship this term.