Aston Villa are set to bid for QPR striker Charlie Austin.

The Sunday Mirror says Villa will move for Austin to replace Liverpool-bound striker Christian Benteke.

Boss Tim Sherwood hopes to use his relationship with QPR director of football Les Ferdinand, who he worked with at Tottenham, to smooth the way for a £15million deal that will leave Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Leicester disappointed.

Austin, 25, scored 18 goals in 35 appearances in his first year in the Premier League to force his way into Roy Hodgson's England squad.