Queens Park Rangers will hold talks over a deal for Nikica Jelavic with Everton on Saturday as Harry Redknapp looks to beat his former club West Ham United to the signing of the Croatia international.

QPR are one of several clubs to have inquired about the 28-year-old, whom Everton are prepared to release on a permanent transfer providing the manager, Roberto Martínez, lands a replacement. Everton have received only proposed loans for Jelavic so far but QPR and West Ham are willing to pay an initial £3.5m and, with the Championship club at Goodison Park in the FA Cup third round, QPR officials will pursue their interest in the striker.

"They have asked but there is nothing concrete," Martínez said. "We have had a few clubs ask about Nikica and Johnny Heitinga because I made it public. Teams have been really interested in two players of their experience and want to find out about the situation. I think when people realise Niki is not going to be available on loan that changes things."

Martínez says Jelavic will be available for selection against his prospective employers despite being aware of interest from Redknapp, who tried to sign the striker before he joined Everton for £5m from Rangers in January 2012.

Martínez said: "I'm sure he knows because these days the players are the first to find out. It won't change his motivation if he plays. It would be very cynical to think that he would not want to knock the team out of the Cup. It's different when there is a firm bid on the table but we're not in that situation. There have been a few clubs asking about him, a few from abroad and a few from the British game."

Hamburg have also inquired about Jelavic but are understood to favour a move in the summer, whereas the striker needs regular football to secure a place in Croatia's World Cup squad. The forward has struggled to recreate his impressive impact at Everton when he scored 11 goals in 14 games. He lost his place this season to the on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku but with Arouna Koné expected to miss the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury, Martínez is adamant Jelavic will not be sold without a replacement on board.

"That would be the case with Arouna injured," he said. "Niki will never go out on loan because it would leave us totally open and we cannot replace him in that respect. He's a big asset and, if we are allowing him to move, it's out of respect to his career and what he has done for us. He needs to play to go to the World Cup and I accept that but it has to be the right terms for the club. I wouldn't let the squad be weakened just to satisfy an individual."

Everton have scouted the Standard Liège striker Michy Batshuayi but Martínez believes the 20-year-old is not ready for the Premier League. He said: "We are clear in what we need. It's someone who can fit in straight away with the physicality of the Premier League and can adapt quickly."