Saints are limbering up as Charlie Austin announces intention to discuss his QPR future after the International fixtures.
Saints are in pole position as the bidding war for Charlie Austin approaches its start, Austin has stated that once he returns from International duty with England he want to sit down with Queens Park Rangers and talk about his future.
Austin has a year left on his contract and feels that having scored 18 times as QPR failed to stay up in the Premier that he has done his best and would now prefer to continue in the Premier League next season.
"I just want to concentrate on the next two weeks, enjoy the moment and what will be will be,” he said. "Who knows what the future will hold for me? I feel like I’ve worked hard enough this season for QPR to try to be a Premier League player but, at the moment, I’ve still got a year left at QPR.
"So the future’s up to the club and my agent to sort out. I’ll sit down with my family and my agent. I’ll speak to Chris Ramsey and Les Ferdinand and tell them my thoughts, and they’ll tell me theirs. After these two weeks, I’ll sit down with the club but, for now, I just want to be fully focused on these next two weeks with England.”
QPR are believed to be resigned to losing the player and will be looking for around the £15 million mark if they are to let him go, however their bargaining power is not great with only a year left on his current deal and they may have to settle for around £10 million rather than risk losing him for nothing next year.
Saints are being quoted as being in pole position for the former Poole Town player due not only to their league standing, but also the fact that Austin himself would prefer to remain in the South,
Also in the frame are Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion, but neither are in a strong position due to uncertainty surrounding both clubs off the pitch.
Austin himself seems certain to tell QPR that in order to retain his England place he will need to be in the Premier League next season.