Neil Warnock is ready to test Fulham’s resolve to keep hold of Andy Johnson by tabling a £3m bid for the former England striker.

The QPR manager has identified a new striker as being crucial to their Premier League survival chances and is disappointed that a lack of clarity over his transfer budget meant that Steve Morison and Danny Graham were signed by the other newly-promoted clubs this week. Warnock is an admirer of Johnson and is prepared to offer around £3m for the Fulham forward, although it is likely that Johnson will need to take a significant cut in his current £40,000-a-week wages to move to Loftus Road.

Previous reports have indicated that Fulham will only consider selling the ex-Everton striker for £4m, but the money could go some way to helping new manager Martin Jol remodel his squad. West Brom, now managed by the man who took Johnson to Craven Cottage in Roy Hodgson, are also thought to be keen on signing him as well. The 30-year-old has scored 26 goals in 78 appearances during an injury-ravaged three years at Fulham and finished the last campaign strongly having recovered from a serious knee problem.