Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl expects his club to have a “busy” final hours of the window.
One player who could depart St Mary’s on deadline day is Charlie Austin who has struggled for playing time in recent weeks.
Where could Austin go? Five key things to know…
- Austin joined Southampton from QPR in January 2016 for a reported fee of £4m.
- He’s gone on to register 20 goals across 72 matches for The Saints in all competitions.
- Since the arrival of Hasenhuttl he’s featured in six of his 11 matches in charge.
- A number of clubs have shown interest in acquiring Austin’s signature.
- Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City are some of those reported.
Hasenhuttl succeeded Mark Hughes last month when the club found themselves in 18th place and having accumulated nine points from 15 played.
He’s since been able to move The Saints away from the relegation places. Southampton have won four of their following nine Premier League matches and now lie two places above the danger zone.
However, they’ve yet to dip into the market despite seeing five players leaving including Manolo Gabbiadini, Cédric Soares, Steven Davis and Wesley Hoedt, but according to Hasenhuttl that could soon change especially if Austin departs which at the moment is up in the air.
“We don’t want to send him away,” he told reporters. “If there is an option and we can get someone in then it could be that this works. Until now it is not done.”
Hasenhuttl, who achieved great things at former Bundesliga clubs Ingolstadt and RB Leipzig, is undoubtedly aware he’s inherited a squad and yet to bring in his own players. It’s something the Austrian tactician is fully aware of when asked if the club’s transfer business was done.
“No not yet,” he added. “On the last day options come up and it show us chance to get an interesting player. We are still busy. The last day is a day everyone stops with their poker and the cards come on the table.”
Since joining the south coast club Hasenhuttl has overseen 11 matches in all competitions winning just four. Importantly those victories have been Premier League exclusive. The most notable was his second game in charge, an entertaining 3-2 win over Arsenal, which ended a 12-match winless streak in the league.
He’s since followed that up with big wins over Huddersfield Town, Leicester City and Everton as well as a solid point away to Chelsea. Hasenhuttl during this run has used no fewer than 29 players with Austin not featuring in their last three outings (albeit having served a one-match ban) prompting speculation about his future. Austin, who joined from QPR in January 2016, sees his present deal with The Saints expire in June 2020.
So far a number of clubs have shown interest in acquiring his services including Championship outfit Aston Villa who are chasing promotion and Premier League sides Wolves and Cardiff City.
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