According to media reports Saints are lining up a deal for Queens Park Ranger's Charlie Austin and it is likely to be cheaper than you would have thought.

Saints are now being reported as being in pole position to sign Charlie Austin, after QPR's relegation on Sunday it is now only a question of who he goes to rather than if and with Rangers facing possible relegation to the Football Conference if they dont pay up a massive fine under the financial fair play rules, the club will keen to sell quickly.

But despite his 17 Premier League goals this season it seems Saints are the biggest club in terms of current league standing who will be interested in Austin, with West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle also being linked, given the turmoil at the latter who are still in grave danger of joining QPR in the Championship next season, Saints seems like his best option.

Austin currently on £28k a week at Loftus Road turned down a £60k a week deal in January to extend his contract which is up next summer and now going into his last year of that deal it means that with QPR needing to trim the wage bill they are in no position to hold out.

The mooted sum to aquire Austin seems to be around the £14 million mark, very reasonable for a player with that number of goals to his credit, however Saints are almost certainly going to have to pay out to Austin in signing on fees and wages a considerable amount so the actual cost to us will be far higher than a transfer fee.

Austin himself has stated that he would prefer to remain in the South which would again put us in pole position with perhaps Spurs the only other club south of Birmingham who could not only afford the player but who would actually want him.

Saints rebuilding for next season has already begun and the news that Jay Rodriguez has signed a new deal is an indication that the club mean business next year and aim to establish themselves as a top 7 club.

Photo: Action Images

schatfield added 15:08 - May 13 Wasnt Austin a striker colleague of Jrod too when at Burnley together? I think he is a great player.
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1970 added 15:57 - May 13 When i said about getting Austin as Lmbert's replacement a few years ago everyone slated me for it,with keeping J-rod we should have some excellent fire power next season,all we need now is an ambitious bid for Petr Cech accepted coyr.
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perazi added 22:49 - May 13 Would be a great bit of business for Saints. Austin really has impressed this season; reminds me of a younger, more mobile version of Ricky Lambert.
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SaintBrock added 16:04 - May 17 Is he really premier league quality? Surely a club competing for the Champions League need to raise their sites above journeyman head and leather English strikers. What can he do that our current strikers can't do equally well or better. we need people like Hazard, Aguero and dare I say Mane after yesterday's spectacular performance?
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