West Bromwich Albion striker Charlie Austin admits he almost joined Newcastle

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West Bromwich Albion striker Charlie Austin has admitted in a Q&A session on Twitter that he came close to joining Newcastle United under Steve McClaren – with everything done on the forward’s side of negotiations.

Austin, 30, is currently plying his trade for West Brom in the Championship after leaving Southampton last summer to join the Baggies. Despite being in and out of the starting line-up, he has still scored nine goals in 30 appearances.

Back in 2015, then-Newcastle manager McClaren told the Guardian that Austin was someone he wanted in January 2016 – after failing to complete a move for the striker in the summer of 2015. It is believed McClaren refused to pay £12million.

Asked by a supporter on Twitter how close he came to a move to Newcastle five years ago, Austin responded by stating that everything had been completed on his side but did not go into detail. That season, Newcastle were relegated.

TBR’s view – Could Austin have saved Newcastle?

The season prior to Newcastle’s failed move, Austin probably enjoyed his best form – given it was in the Premier League. The striker was on the verge of an England call-up, as he netted 18 goals in 35 Premier League games for QPR.

Little surprise that Newcastle were considering a move for Austin, then – but it is completely inconceivable that The Toon refused to pay £12million for a striker that had a ratio better than one goal every two Premier League games the season prior.

He could have saved The Toon from being relegated under McClaren, and then Rafa Benitez.