West Ham have made initial moves to sign Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin, sources have told ESPN.
Austin has been widely linked with a move to Newcastle, with new St. James' Park boss Steve McClaren reportedly keen to recruit the striker who scored 18 Premier League goals last season.
Yet the option to stay in London and spearhead a West Ham side that will move to the Olympic Stadium in the summer of 2016 may appeal to the 25-year-old forward who won his first call-up to the England international squad this month.
The competition for Austin's signature will put QPR in a strong position when they open negotiations, with Southampton another club that have been linked with the forward in recent days.
New West Ham boss Slaven Bilic will be looking to bulk up the forward line he has inherited at the club, with striker Carlton Cole among those released by the Hammers this summer and record signing Andy Carroll suffering from a succession of injuries in the last couple of seasons.