QPR chief: 'Charlie Austin could be sold in January'

Queens Park Rangers chief executive Lee Hoos has confessed that the club's star asset Charlie Austin could be sold in January if an adequate replacement is found.

The 26-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move back to the Premier League after impressing in the top flight with the Hoops last season.

Sunderland are the latest side to have been tipped with making a bid for the £15m-rated forward, who was thought to be on the brink of joining Newcastle United in the summer before a disagreement in the player's true valuation.

With Austin out of contract in the summer, and his value ultimately depreciating as a result, QPR will now listen to offers once more when the transfer window opens for business in a little over a month's time.

Speaking to Get West London, CEO Hoos said: "My whole career has been built on risk management. The risk is can we replace Charlie with that amount of money? Then it's worth taking the shot.

"It's not a case of, 'oh if we don't sell this player, we're stuffed.' It's a football versus finance decision. At the time, we'll weigh up the possibilities and the probabilities of promotion, and then come out with a logical decision."

Austin, who missed QPR's defeat to Middlesbrough on Friday night through injury, has scored seven goals in 12 appearances for the West London outfit this term.