NEWCASTLE UNITED’S hopes of securing an early transfer coup with the capture of Charlie Austin look like being dashed – with the striker currently pondering a move to Crystal Palace.

The Magpies’ need for a new centre-forward has intensified after Papiss Cisse was ruled out for up to three months with a groin injury, and the current side’s failings in front of goal were all too apparent as they failed to score for the third game in succession in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Having made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Austin in the summer, with talks breaking down because of QPR’s valuation of the striker and concerns over a long-standing knee problem, Newcastle’s recruitment team agreed to resurrect their interest in the 26-year-old when they met last month.

Sources in London claim Newcastle are one of around four or five clubs to have flagged up their desire to sign Austin this month, and while the striker has previously spoken of his willingness to remain at Loftus Road until his contract expires in the summer, the QPR hierarchy are expected to cash in before the transfer window closes rather than lose their leading asset for nothing in six months’ time.

They are expected to demand a fee of around £12m, but Newcastle will have to beat off fierce competition in order to land Austin, who scored 18 Premier League goals as QPR were relegated last season.

Southampton and Norwich have also expressed an interest, but Palace are currently regarded as the favourites given their position in the top half of the table, their willingness to meet QPR’s asking price and their ability to offer Austin the opportunity to remain in London.

Palace boss Alan Pardew spelled out his desire to sign a new striker last week, and has instructed his board to make Austin their number one priority.

A successful deal would leave Newcastle looking elsewhere, and would almost certainly mean a switch of attention overseas with viable domestic alternatives few and far between.

The Magpies retain a long-standing interest in Saido Berahino, who could well leave West Brom this month, but the England international is regarded as more of an attacking midfielder than a leader of the line.

With Cisse injured, Emmanuel Riviere still feeling his way back to full fitness and Adam Armstrong set to remain at Coventry City until the end of the season, Aleksandar Mitrovic is currently the only central striker available to McClaren.

Overseas targets could well include Bas Dost, who continues to impress in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, Alexandre Lacazette, who remains prolific with Lyon, and Michy Batshuayi, who has hit the headlines with Marseille this season. However, all three would command a price tag well in excess of £15m, and it remains to be seen whether Mike Ashley is willing to go so high, having already shelled out more than £50m in the summer.

Ashley has instructed McClaren not to discuss the club’s transfer dealings in public, but the Newcastle boss has admitted that the process of attempting to recruit players has already begun. “We’ve been working behind the scenes, and we will carry on doing that tirelessly,” he said.

With managing director Lee Charnley and chief scout Graham Carr continuing to play a prominent role in the recruitment process, Newcastle are also targeting potential midfield additions.

Bordeaux’s Henri Saivet, who can play in central midfield or in a wide position, has been targeted, with the Magpies hoping to agree a £3m deal for the 25-year-old.

However, Southampton and Bournemouth have also expressed an interest, and Saivet is understood to be reluctant to move to a side that could find themselves in the Championship next season.

Newcastle are also monitoring the anticipated availability of Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, who has fallen out of favour at White Hart Lane, and Swansea’s Jonjo Shelvey, who was left out of the squad for his side’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.

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Townsend has been linked with a number of top-flight sides, including Newcastle’s North-East rivals Sunderland, but with his place at this summer’s European Championships hanging in the balance, the winger has requested as long as possible to consider his options.

Shelvey trained with Swansea’s reserves at the weekend, and while caretaker boss Alan Curtis insists the midfielder still has a future at the Liberty Stadium, he is expected to move elsewhere before the transfer window closes on February 1.

McClaren confirmed the extent of Cisse’s injury in the wake of Saturday’s defeat at the Emirates, which left Newcastle two points adrift of safety in 18th position.

The Senegal international has now had two scans since damaging his groin in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, and it is anticipated that he will require surgery to repair the problem.

“Papiss is injured for the next two or three months,” said McClaren. “We’re just waiting for a second opinion.”