According to reports from Mirror Football yesterday evening, Newcastle and Southampton are both preparing summer bids for QPR striker Charlie Austin.
The 25 year-old’s 17 goals last season fired the west Londoners to promotion from the Championship, but he’s already matched that total this year in just 29 appearances, ranking him fourth in the Premier League’s scoring charts.
With many anticipating relegation for Rangers come the end of May, it’s more than likely Austin will be sold this summer to cut costs at Loftus Road – in fact, Mirror Football claim QPR will cash-in even if they avoid the drop.
Both the Magpies and the Saints have struggled for goals in the second half of the season. Southampton top scorer Graziano Pelle has scored just twice in his last 15 Premier League outings, whilst Newcastle have netted only four times during their last 9 league fixtures.
Austin, who has generated a prolific career return of 215 goals in 344 appearances amid his seven-year journey from Poole Town to the Premier League, would certainly address their struggles in front of goal, and Mirror Football rate him at a more than affordable £10million.