Director of football Les Ferdinand has claimed that Charlie Austin's future at Queens Park Rangers could depend on whether the club stay in the Premier League.

Austin is reported to be stalling on a new deal, and Ferdinand believes that avoiding relegation and adding new recruits in the summer could be key as QPR aim to keep the striker.

"We will be trying our best come the end of the season to make sure Charlie signs up and stays," the former England forward told reporters. "But you know what we do understand is that players are ambitious. Sometimes they want to look elsewhere.

"We will be doing our best to make sure we give him the opportunity to stay and play in the Premier League.

"The aim is to replenish the squad and we don't want to be losing our best players like Charlie."

Austin has scored 15 goals in 25 league appearances this season.