Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed that striker Charlie Austin could potentially complete a move away from St Mary’s Stadium before the January transfer deadline slams shut on Thursday evening.
The 29-year-old striker has only started two matches since the Austrian came through the door as Mark Hughes replacement, but his gesture resulting in a ban didn’t help on that score either. With him only finding the net three times in 2018/19 given our struggles in front of goal, Sky Sports are one of a few to report that we are listening to offers for the player and if a deal suits, it’ll be another outgoing under Hasenhuttl as he looks to reshape the group.
Speaking ahead of the Crystal Palace game this coming Wednesday, our gaffer was quoted as saying.
“Sometimes you get to a point when you as a club can’t give a player what he expects us to give him so in this situation we are trying to find a win-win situation for both sides. I think he has played two times from the beginning since I have been here. He is a fantastic striker who can score for every team. He is 100 per cent professional, he shows the team that if we need him he is here. But like every player he wants to start from the beginning and if there is not the option here in Southampton then maybe he will be looking for another club where he has this option. Then we have to talk about these things. We don’t send any player away but if there is a different option for him it can be he is an option for another club.”
Hasenhuttl went on to speak about his options up top on the pitch and he felt we had a good ‘four’ options for the two spots, but many will feel if Austin heads out as well following the departure of Manolo Gabbiadini, it will definitely mean we have our eye on a potential incoming as well.
Tentative links to the likes of Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers are already doing the rounds, so it could be a busy day on Thursday.
