Aston Villa will reportedly make an offer of £8m to Queens Park Rangers for striker Charlie Austin next month.
The Premier League's basement side will attempt to woo the 26-year-old, who has scored 45 times in 82 league appearances for the London club, as they bid to make a miracle escape from relegation in the second half of the season, according to the Daily Star.
Despite having put the Midlands side up for sale, owner Randy Lerner has promised manager Remi Garde that he will have funds to play with in January.
Austin is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and has said that he has no intention of leaving Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's squad in the winter window, although his resolve will be tested with bids from a number of interested Premier League parties.
As well as Villa, others said to be in the race include Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Bournemouth.
Austin is the Hoops' top scorer this season with 10 of their 28 league goals.
Neil Wilkes
