more on the non story A round-up of the latest transfer speculation involving QPR and Chelsea… Newcastle have again been tipped to sign Charlie Austin, while Dutch media reports claim his QPR team-mate Leroy Fer is also a target for Magpies boss Steve McClaren. The Express say striker Austin looks to be on his way to St James’ Park based on the fact that a couple of leading bookmakers have suspended betting on Newcastle signing him. Rangers have not received a firm approach from Newcastle for Austin despite numerous reports of interest. They are also yet to receive any enquiries for Netherlands midfielder Fer. Related West London Sport story: No Newcastle approach for Austin – Les please log in to view this image Newcastle have been linked with Austin but have not made an approach The Express also claim QPR winger Matty Phillips could be heading for Aston Villa or Leicester. West London Sport recently revealed that West Brom had a bid for Phillips, 24, rejected and more recently that Rangers director of football was refusing to budge on the asking prices for Phillips and Charlie Austin. That led to reports that Albion boss Tony Pulis was ending his interest in the winger and focusing on other targets. Talks between the two clubs are ongoing and Pulis is hopeful a deal can be agreed. However, amid speculation that West Brom are no longer pursuing Phillips, the Express suggest Leicester and Villa have been boosted. Related West London Sport stories: QPR reject £7m bid from West Brom for Phillips (7 July) No Newcastle approach for Austin – Les (14 July ) please log in to view this image Phillips impressed for Rangers during the second half of last season Meanwhile, the Daily Mail pick up on Crystal Palace’s £3m bid for QPR goalkeeper Alex McCarthy
and some more Betting suspended as QPR striker looks set for Newcastle United switch image: http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/929d72b766872c342d5234d113fbd30f?s=45&d=mm&r=g please log in to view this image Date: 16th July 2015 at 6:03 pm Written by: Ryan Ingham | Comments (2) Football News 24/7 Charlie Austin looks set to be close to a move to Premier League side Newcastle United after Sky Bet announced betting on the move was suspended, reports Sky Sports. image: http://cdn.footballleagueworld.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/austin99-300x185.jpg please log in to view this image Austin looks set to join Newcastle United The QPR striker looks set to join Steve McLaren at St.James Park after odds went as low as 1/10 for the England international to join the club. The 26-year old had a fantastic first season in the Premier League last season, scoring 18 goals, but his efforts could not keep the Loftus Road side in the top flight. Austin has impressed enough to earn his first England call up and after the Hoops were relegated, a host of clubs including West Ham, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Southampton have looked into his signature. The forward now looks set to join up with Newcastle and could be a major signing to galvanise the squad’s current misfiring strikers as well as set the club on the right path after surviving relegation on the last day of the season. Austin was at 20/1 to stay at QPR this summer, and anyone who bet on that situation look set to have missed out with his impending transfer out of the financially struggling Championship side. Sky Bet’s Chris Spicer believes that the move is a shock with a lack of media speculation on the pending transfer. However, the betting company have revealed that large bets on the transfer means that someone is clearly in the know about the deal. Read more at http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/be...-newcastle-united-switch/#jMT5miufW1A1MZXw.99
Apparently Charlie - being the model professional - has invested in half a dozen boxed sets of the last few series of Geordie Shore in an attempt to learn the language.
Two tough players to replace in the championship, but we need quality in both areas imho - oh ... and defenders please
It has been reported that bookies have stopped taking bets on Austin going to Toon. There again, they stopped taking bets on Martin O'Neill becoming the new Leicester manager.
Meanwhile Christian Benteke could be on his way to Liverpool for £32.5 million - crazy Sterling money, akin to buying Andy Carroll for £35 million as a knee jerk reaction after they sold Torres to Chelsea for £50 million. Nice profit margin on a £7 million investment just 3 years ago. please log in to view this image Christian Benteke joined Villa for £7m in August 2012 Christian Benteke: Liverpool bid £32.5m for Aston Villa striker Liverpool have met a £32.5m release clause for Aston Villa's Belgium striker Christian Benteke, triggering a potential transfer. The 24-year-old scored 12 goals in 12 games in the 2014-15 season to help keep Villa in the Premier League. The Reds have bid for the player - and met the asking price - after receiving funds from the £49m sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City. Benteke still has two years left on his contract at Villa. England striker Daniel Sturridge made only 18 appearances for Liverpool last season because of a succession of injuries and is out until September with a hip problem. Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is believed to want cover as he seeks to re-establish his team in the Champions League, having finished sixth in the league last season. Chief executive Ian Ayre is with Rodgers and his squad for the second leg of their pre-season tour in Brisbane, Australia, but is handling negotiations with Villa over the details of the deal. It is understood personal terms between Benteke and Liverpool are a formality, although the Anfield club do not yet have permission to do the medical. Rodgers said on Thursday that despite the departure of England forward Sterling, 20, Liverpool could still attract top players. "Players are always going to want to come to Liverpool, it's such an iconic club, it's a great club," he said. "The challenge for us is to get back in among the top teams, hopefully that continues to attract players." Benteke joined Aston Villa from Genk in August 2012 for £7m and has scored 49 goals in 101 appearances. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33557059
Football fans believe what suits them....this is labelled by some as a non story by some because it is not what QPR fans want to hear. If QPR were being touted in the press to be on the verge of buying so and so player and that player was a popular choice, it would not be a non story at all, the fans would run with it.
I said that it was a non story for the simple reason that there were NO quotes from either team. Ergo, that makes me a realist. When the deal is done, I'll acknowledge that, but how can anyone acknowledge hearsay?
Sky bet is a load of old w*nk they'll suspend betting at the drop of a hat. Les says no Toon approach (yet).
With Liverpool meeting Benteke's release clause I fully expect Villa to now make an approach, getting in £32m & an 18 goal replacement for £15m would seem like a pretty could deal.
