Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has suggested that forward Charlie Austin could leave the club before the transfer deadline.
The Austrian has already trimmed his squad since arriving at St Mary’s with the likes of Manolo Gabbiadini, Cedric Soares, Wesley Hoedt and Steven Davies having already departed the club.
Austin has fallen down the pecking since the new man’s arrival and whilst Hasenhuttl has told that he would like to keep him at the club, a lack of opportunities could see him also make for the exit door.
He said: “He [Austin] is 100 per cent professional, he shows the team that if we need him he is here.
“But like every player he wants to start from the beginning and if there is not the option here in Southampton then maybe he will be looking for another club where he has this option.
“Then we have to talk about these things. We don’t send any player away but if there is a different option for him it can be he is an option for another club.”
The 29-year-old striker joined the Saints from QPR in January 2016. He has gone on to make 72 appearances and scored 20 goals but has only made nine starts this season.
Aston Villa are the favourites to sign him and can be backed at 2/1 with BetVictor.
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