Les Ferdinand: 'Charlie Austin will not be cheap'

Queens Park Rangers director of football Les Ferdinand has warned clubs interested in Charlie Austin that the striker will not be sold cheaply in the summer.

Austin's 17 goals were unable to save QPR from relegation, and the 25-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Loftus Road in recent months.

Ferdinand admits that the club will face a battle to keep the striker, but he insists that they will not be forced into a deal which does not represent good value.

"This club isn't going to be a bargain bucket. Charlie has had a fantastic year in terms of scoring in the Premier League with 17 in his debut season," he told the Evening Standard.

"We can gloss over it as much as we want, but people are going to court him, people are going to come after him.

"Can we keep him? We are going to sit down with Charlie and talk to him. But it will come down to him and his agent to decide what's best for Charlie Austin."

Reports have suggested that Southampton and Newcastle United are leading the race for the striker.