Crystal Palace are plotting a £7.5m bid for QPR striker Charlie Austin as the Eagles search for more potency in front of goal, reports say.

Despite a strong start to the season, Alan Pardew’s charge have only scored 23 goals in their 20 Premier League games and have failed to score in three consecutive games.

Pardew, 54, has admitted he hopes the club can bring in a forward this month to maintain the Eagles’ push for European football, with a host of high-profile names being linked with a switch to south London.

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Austin, 26, was strongly linked with a move to Selhurst Park in the summer and the Sun report that Palace are set to offer Championship side QPR £7.5m for the forward’s signature.

Austin, who scored 18 goals for relegated QPR during the 2014-15 season, will become a free agent in the summer but QPR were adamant that the goal-scorer would not be sold for less than £15 in the summer.

However, it is claimed that Rangers are not willing to cash in on their prized asset, knowing they could lose him for nothing when his contract expires.

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