Charlie Austin: QPR reject Leicester's £12m bid for striker

Queens Park Rangers have turned down a £12m bid from Leicester for striker Charlie Austin.

The 25-year-old, who still has a year left on his contract, scored 18 Premier League goals last season as QPR were relegated to the Championship.

The former Burnley and Swindon Town man was called up by England for the first time last month for the games against Slovenia and the Republic of Ireland.

It is understood QPR want at least £15m for the player.

Newcastle and Crystal Palace  have already been heavily linked with Austin, who finished fourth in the Premier League scoring charts last season with almost half of his club's entire total of 42.

Leicester have sanctioned the bid, which would have been a club-record fee for Austin, after sacking manager Nigel Pearson on Tuesday.