Leeds United would be making a costly error by signing Southampton outcast Charlie Austin, following Darren Bent’s recommendation to target the forward as Kemar Roofe’s replacement.
Former England international Bent suggested Austin as a worthy successor for Roofe to Football Insider, after reports indicated that the Walsall-born talent might be leaving Elland Road for RSC Anderlecht in a £5million deal.
His departure would leave Marcelo Bielsa with an attacking contingent of Patrick Bamford, last season’s Under 23s star Ryan Edmondson, and the rarely-seen Pawel Cibicki, who spent 2018/19 frozen out of the boss’ plans between loan spells with Molde and Elfsborg.
This potential future scenario is thought to have put Leeds back in the shop-window for strikers, and, with Austin transfer-listed on the south coast, is seen by Bent as someone we must target.
“Leeds need a new centre-forward, and someone like Charlie Austin would be ideal,” Bent suggested. “He knows the Championship well, he’s scored a lot of goals in that division and, if you keep him fit, he’ll be prolific.
“He’d be a brilliant signing for Leeds. It’s feasible. Why not? Southampton are willing to let him go, and it might be best for him to drop down a division like I did.
“As a striker, there’s no better feeling than hitting the [back of the] net. There’s no worse feeling than not playing. It’s not like Leeds are a small club. They’re massive. If Austin can help get them promoted, he’d go down in history as a Leeds legend.”
While Southampton are keen to part ways with Austin after a troubled summer involving the striker, the Saints are not open to accepting a measly sum for the 30-year-old.
The Sun understand Hasenhuttl wants £8million for the former Queens Park Rangers forward, and a bidding war could ensue with Deadline Day on the horizon, as Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion are all said to be interested. Newcastle United, meanwhile, were offered Austin according to the Chronicle, as new Toon boss Steve Bruce is on the hunt for attackers to boost his new side.
It is hard to see why the interest in the Hungerford-born striker is so wide, though, as he has not hit double figures in a single league season since the 2014/15 campaign while still on QPR’s books, and his time spent on the field has been in decline since leaving the London outfit.
Since he moved to Southampton on a £60,000-a-week contract, Austin has returned the Saints just 20 goals in 81 games across all competitions, playing 3,675 minutes.