Austin is a Blues target

Last updated : 31 May 2015 By Paul Lagan

Charlie Austin has emerged as a shock transfer target for Premier League winners Chelsea, Chelsea-Mad can reveal.

The Queens Park Rangers hit man, one of the Hopps' successes in their dismal season which saw them relegated from the top flight is seen as a natural back up for injury prone Diego Costa.

it had been expected that Austin was heading to Anfield to join Liverpool. But with the Scousers in turmoil.and the future of ex-Chelsea youth team coach and now Liverpool manager Bredan Rodgers in doubt, Chelsea feel they can nip in and steal the striker, who is expected to make his England debut next week against Republic of Ireland In Dublin for a friendly.

Austin, 25 is a lifelong Chelsea fan and will jump at the chance to stay in London and fulfil his dream of playing for his boyhood club.

Austin has made steady progress in his career which started in non-league after his release from Reading as a youth. Having being picked up by Swindon, from Poole Town, Austin has scored goals wherever he went.  A goal-laden stopover at Burnley saw him arrive at the west London cousins of Chelsea QPR where he scored 18 goals last season.

A fee of £20million will secure his signing as QPR clear the decks for life in the Championship.