West Ham have joined the race to sign QPR striker Charlie Austin.

Austin is aware of West Ham’s interest and is prepared to join them.

There has been no official bid from the Hammers for the striker, who scored his first goal of the season in QPR’s 2-2 draw with Cardiff on Saturday.

There is still an issue regarding the fee, with QPR refusing to lower their £15million asking price.

Slaven Bilic is keen to strengthen his front-line, especially with Enner Valencia facing three months out with a knee and ankle injury, and has already looked at signing Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor.

Austin is only interested in a move to a club within the capital.

He was hoping to join Chelsea but Loic Remy has committed his future to Stamford Bridge, leaving manager Jose Mourinho with sufficient attacking options.

Tottenham also have Austin on their wish-list but only if they fail to sign Saido Berahino or Javier Hernandez. It is believed Everton, Newcastle, West Brom, Bournemouth and Aston Villa are also tracking Austin but he is not interested in a move to any of those sides.

Austin has only one year left on his current contract. QPR will offer him a new deal if he doesn’t secure a transfer during this window.

The situation has become further complicated, though, by QPR midfielder Leroy Fer’s failed move to Sunderland.

With Fer’s loan move to the Stadium of Light collapsing, there was more pressure on QPR to get some other high earners, such as goalkeeper Robert Green, off the payroll.

Green is on around £40,000 a week and likely to move on in the transfer window, having turned down a move to Chelsea earlier this year because he didn’t want to sit on the bench.