Southampton hitman Austin could be left-field solution to Newcastle’s scoring woes

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Relegation-threatened Southampton are willing to listen to offers for striker Charlie Austin, according to Sky Sports.

They report that Austin’s contract runs out in summer 2020 and because he has slipped out of favour since Ralph Hasenhuttl’s appointment, he is now on the transfer market.

Hasenhuttl prefers a high-tempo pressing game, which suits strikers who are all-rounders but Austin is more of an old-school frontman; playing on the shoulder and sniffing out chances in front of goal.

One club who have always had an affinity with that type of player – and desperately lack one in their current ranks – are Newcastle United.

Rafa Benitez has struggled to find a reliable source of goals since bringing the Magpies back into the Premier League and Austin has the nous to sniff out the strikes that a workmanlike squad needs in order to survive.

Southampton may well be reluctant to send Austin to a relegation rival, but if is clears his wages off the club bill and gives the player a new lease of life, it would work well for all parties.

Austin is a good professional and a hard-working frontman who will convert chances if Newcastle can create them – and there is nowhere better for a striker to play if he is finding the net with regularity.