Joey Barton has urged Newcastle to lure Southampton striker Charlie Austin to St. James’ Park in order to revitalise the Toon’s chances of Premier League survival.
Newcastle could still be in the market for a new striker this summer, after selling Adam Armstrong to Bolton and Daryl Murphy to Nottingham Forest, with Aleksandar Mitrovic’s future in doubt.
The Sun claim Spanish side Malaga claim are interested in signing 22-year-old Mitrovic on loan this summer, with Dwight Gayle considered first choice and new signing Joselu also above the Serbia international.
Former Newcastle midfielder Barton believes the Toon should look to sign powerful striker Austin, who scored a penalty during a 10-minute cameo role as a substitute during Southampton’s 2-2 draw against West Ham on Saturday.
“Is Mitrovic the answer? I don’t think so,” Barton told Alan Brazil’s breakfast show on talkSPORT (Monday, 7am). “They definitely need a striker, who’s going to get you 15 or 20 goals. Charlie Austin, maybe?
“They’ve been linked with him before. If you go onto the pitch and you think to yourself, ‘he’s in the team, he’s going to get us a goal’ [it affects your mentality].”
The Daily Mail claimed 28-year-old Austin cost Southampton just £4million back in January 2016, but his stay on the south coast has been blighted by injury.
Making 59 Premier League appearances throughout his career for Southampton and QPR, Austin has scored 26 goals as well as adding eight assists in that time.
It remains to be seen how much the uncapped Englishman would cost Newcastle, as he still has three years remaining on his current contract.
OPINION
Charlie Austin would be the signing of the summer at Newcastle if they could lure the target man to Tyneside, due to his proven goalscoring record. Known for his ability to find the back of the net in the top tier of English football, Austin would guarantee goals at Newcastle in a side that have failed to score in their opening two matches. Austin would give the Toon presence up front, proving time and time again that he can score from nothing. The striker could be seen as expendable on the south coast, with Shane Long, Sam Gallagher and Manolo Gabbiadini all vying for a first-team slot. However, it remains to be seen how much he would cost, with owner Mike Ashley not being free with the Toon chequebook this summer.