With the end of the transfer window in sight, Everton are desperate to sign a replacement for Lukaku who in turn is desperate to go to Chelsea.
Charlie Austin is today being linked with a move to Everton and a re union with ex Saints boss Ronald Koeman, the source of this rumour is the London Evening Standard.
Chelsea are trying to sign Everton striker Lukaku, but the key to that happening is Everton signing a replacement and Austin having played for Koeman at Saints is an easy link for the Standard.
The paper goes on to claim that having started only two league games since his arrival at Saints, Austin is in danger of being marginalised under new manager Clsude Puel, that is distorting the facts a little in that Austin spent much of his time last season not being 100% fit and when he was in the squad, it was Koeman who put him on the bench preferring Shane Long and Pelle up front.
The standard is also claiming that QPR are trying to get Austin back on loan, but the player himself does not want to leave th e Premier League.
From a Saints perspective at the moment Saints strike force is heavily reliant on Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez being fit and their injury record over the last two years is not great, it could be that if Saints can make a signing or two up front themselves and with rumours abounding that Puel's style of play won't suit Austin, that the club could prefer to have strikers with a good fitness record in the squad as at the moment the risk is a little too high.