The striker Charlie Austin is wanted by Southampton and West Ham as well as Newcastle United with relegated Queen’s Park Rangers looking for a fee of £15m from the transfer of their most saleable asset.

Newcastle have a longstanding interest in Austin, 25, currently with the England senior squad in Slovenia for the Euro 2016 qualifier this afternoon. Newcastle’s scouting department had identified Austin as a prime target before the appointment last week of Steve McClaren, who considers the player as his first choice.

The player whose rise from non-league Poole Town to 18 goals in his first Premier League season has attracted widespread interest. Southampton would like to sign the player but have to wait for deals to go through first, with Morgan Schneiderlin their key sale. Graziano Pelle is 30 next month and the club are looking at alternative long-term options.