Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin is likely to be sold in January if a top Premier League club comes calling for him, admits QPR director of football Les Ferdinand.
Austin has scored 10 times in 16 appearances in the Championship for QPR this season, and has previously said he's happy to stay until the season's end.
The 26-year-old has been linked to Bournemouth and Sunderland, among other Premier League sides, though the club has also said he's not for sale.
But Ferdinand on Monday said the unpredictable nature of this season's Premier League means it's possible that the biggest clubs could bid to lure Austin away in the winter transfer window.
"I'm realistic and sometimes that gets people upset, but there are teams in the top six of the Premier League that are struggling," Ferdinand said.
"If one of those teams come in and bid for Charlie, he will want to go because that's where he sees himself. Charlie's goals-per-game ratio is up there with the best in the country.
"But obviously we'd love Charlie to stay until the end of the season because we'd have a great chance of making the playoffs."
QPR are currently 12th in the Championship table, five points adrift of the final playoff spot.