Sky Sports - Newcastle now weighing up surprise move for Premier League striker
According to Sky Sports, Steve Bruce is weighing up whether to make an official move for Southampton striker Charlie Austin.
Sky Sports claim that the former QPR star is one of several players on our radar, but state we made an inquiry over a potential deal 'several weeks ago'.
Since then, it's been made quite clear that he's not in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans, being demoted to the club's reserves and made available for a cut-price fee as a result.
Here's what Sky Sports have had to say during their latest piece on a potential move for Austin:
"Southampton striker Charlie Austin is understood to be on a list of potential targets put to new Newcastle boss Steve Bruce.
'The Magpies made an inquiry to the Saints about the striker several weeks ago, Sky Sports News has been told.
'Bruce is set to decide whether Newcastle press ahead with a move for the striker, as he looks to build his new Premier League squad.'Austin has been training with Southampton's U23s - which he has been far from happy about - having been put on the transfer list at St Mary's.
He would be a very handy Joselu replacement, giving us Premier League experience and a decent back up option to Joelinton, however I have my doubts about this. Considering he's 30, is this is a deal Steve Bruce will get the final say on? I doubt it.
He falls well outside of Ashley’s ’26 and under’ policy and would be surely be seen as a surprise signing should we pursue this deal - especially when we refused to sign a 29-year-old Rondon permanently!
Austin has bagged 16 goals in 66 Premier League appearances over the past few seasons, scoring just twice in the league across 2018/19.
Are we going to pay his alleged £8m asking price? I'm not so sure, with a free agent move and 'pay as you play' deal for Andy Carroll seeming more likely to me.
