West Ham United have reportedly entered the race to sign Charlie Austin from Queens Park Rangers, according to the Evening Standard.

Austin, 26, has one year left remaining on his current contract and will be eyeing a move back to the Premier League after QPR’s relegation last term.

The striker remained a potent threat to Premier League defences last season, scoring 18 goals in a QPR side which totalled just 42 and subsequently finished the campaign eight points from safety.

Long-term injuries to strikers Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll have left the Hammers light up front with forgotten men Mauro Zarate and Modibo Maiga both back in the first-team fold as a result.

Austin, who received his first international call up for England's European Championships qualifier against Slovenia and a friendly with the Republic of Ireland in June, is valued at £15million by the Championship club.

Director of football at Loftus Road, Les Ferdinand, told BBC sport, “If someone meets the valuation, it is down to Charlie to whether he wants to leave the club.

"When you look at what Christian Benteke went for (£32.5 million), I don't think we're pricing him out the market.”

Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Newcastle United are all reportedly interested in capturing the England forward’s signature, too.

When asked his future, Austin told Sky Sports: “I don’t know to be honest. Like I’ve said the whole way through, I’m here to play and I’ll leave that to my agent and the owners of the football club and whatever they decide will be.

“I’m focused on the job in hand. Every player wants to play in the Premier League and I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to be there, but I’ve got to work hard while I’m at QPR and try my best."