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Newcastle United are closing in on a deal for QPR’s England forward Charlie Austin – who is keen to join the club.

Although a fee is yet to be agreed between the two clubs sources close to Austin say United is his preferred choice, and the appointment of Steve McClaren on a three-year deal and imminent arrival of Steve Black on the coaching staff will help United.

Black worked with Austin at Loftus Road and McClaren has recommended the 25-year-old to Lee Charnley and Graham Carr.

What remains is for Charnley, who was joined on the board by Carr, Bob Moncur and McClaren in a boardroom reshuffle which saw Mike Ashley step down, to broker a deal. QPR have slapped a £15million price tag on him while United value him closer to £10million – but crucially Ashley has given the green light for investment and Newcastle have more resources than last year, when they were frustrated in their attempts to do deals for Loic Remy and Alexandre Lacazette.

Austin being keen to sign for Newcastle is the key – there were always doubts about having to sell the club to Lacazette and even Remy, who wanted Champions League football.

Rangers know they will have to sell Austin, currently on England duty, and having been relegated they need to sell. But it is in their interests to drive a hard bargain, and they will be hoping interest from Southampton is firmed up.

Much has been made about United again looking at the domestic market, but McClaren says he is more interested in “character”.

He said: “There is expectation and 52,000 fans demand a performance. To do that we need characters.

“I have had a long chat with Lee Charnley and Graham Carr, and top of the formula in terms of recruitment is character. Everything starts with that.

“I have worked abroad and with foreign players, and had foreigners at Boro. It doesn’t matter where they are from if they have character. That is what we have to recruit.

“We can’t stand still in football. We can’t just say we’ll make these players better. If you stand still you go backwards. In everything you have to move forward.”