Newcastle United turned down the chance to sign Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin on deadline day, in a deal that would have seen Rolando Aarons go the other way, according to the Chronicle. 

Contrary to earlier reports, an agent who claimed to be representing QPR tried to complete the move that would have seen the Magpies part with £10m, as well as Aarons, in return for the services of the in-demand Austin.

However, the 19-year-old is highly-rated at St James' Park, and it seems that head coach Steve McLaren is reluctant to let the youngster, whose five Premier League appearances have all come off the bench, move to London.

The paper also states that the agent was working on behalf of QPR’s director of football Les Ferdinand, who told the Premier League side that if they did not want to include Aarons in the switch, then they could buy Austin for £12m, which Newcastle rejected.

QPR initially set their asking price for Austin, deemed one of the hottest properties outside of the Premier League, at £15 million at the beginning of the transfer window - a figure that was deemed too high by numerous top-flight clubs, including the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Austin, who scored 18 goals in the Premier League last season, is in the last year of his contract and, unless he negotiates a new deal at Loftus Road, QPR will lose him for nothing next summer.

Therefore, Newcastle may be one of a number of clubs to go back in for the striker in January, where QPR may be forced to lower their asking price or risk him leaving on a free transfer.

However, QPR will no doubt feel vindicated in their decision if Austin helps fire them back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

QPR fans... what do you make of the news? Were you right to keep Austin, and will he fire you back to the top-flight? Or should you have cashed in? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!