Newcastle United turned down an approach for Rolando Aarons on transfer deadline day.
The Chronicle understands that an agent, who claimed to be representing Queens Park Rangers, tried to set up a deal that would have resulted in the teenage winger switching to Loftus Road and Charlie Austin heading the over direction.
The cost of the deal to Newcastle was £10million and would have meant the Magpies losing one of their prize assets in the 19-year-old former Bristol City trainee.
The agent, not an employee of either Newcastle or Rangers but said to be working on behalf of the London club’s director of football Les Ferdinand, also suggested that Austin would be available to United at the end of the window for £12million.
But Newcastle turned down both offers and have since stated they are delighted with their work in the transfer window this summer.
Newcastle were not the only club to have reservations over Austin’s original price tag.
Indeed, after QPR had set his valuation at £15million earlier in the summer it proved too much of a price for West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, Leicester City and Bournemouth.
Austin’s contract runs out at the end of the season and if he fails to sign another deal he will be available on a free transfer.
Austin surprisingly stayed with Championship side QPR where he will see out the remainder of his contract – which is now in its final year.
And speaking to the Independent, the England striker revealed that there were no offers this summer that suited him.
He said: “I’m not disappointed. It’s a decision that I have taken on my shoulders, with my family and my agent as well. If the move happened, it was going to be a big one but it was something that had to be right. It wasn’t something that I was going to rush into.
“I wanted the club to be established. I didn’t want the club to be pushed on me.
“I spoke to Les [Ferdinand, QPR director of football] and said ‘Les, if the move is not right then I am not going’. But I knew on the other hand that he had to do everything possible to get the best for Queen’s Park Rangers.
“I told him that if the move wasn’t right for them I would be here until next season and trying my very best to get the club back in the Premier League.”
QPR striker Charlie Austin admits he was "hurt" by comments from West Ham co-owner David Sullivan questioning his fitness.
Sullivan ruled out a move for the 26-year-old during the transfer window as he said it was too much of a risk for the Hammers.
The businessman questioned Austin's long-term fitness after he failed a medical at Hull in 2013 and also his goalscoring ability.
"I was disappointed, I felt hurt because I felt like it was an attack on myself," Austin told Soccer AM.
"But these things happen and I'll put it to the back of my mind."
Asked whether he thought Sullivan should have apologised, Austin said: "When do you ever hear of a football club chairman apologising directly to a player? I wasn't expecting an apology."
Following a summer of speculation around his future, Austin opted to remain with QPR as they bid to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
The striker, who has netted four goals in the Championship this season, said: "I've trained hard with all this going on, I have got my head down and worked hard for QPR and luckily enough we have got 10 points from 15 so far.
"Chris (Ramsey, QPR manager) has pulled me in and we have had conversations throughout the window; he can't really say a lot because I've been top scorer in the Championship so far!"