Aston Villa target Charlie Austin is believed to want a move to another Premier League team, having been told he is no longer in Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans for next season, According to a report by the Daily Echo.
It’s been widely reported that Austin is unhappy with the situation he currently fits himself in and has now been told to train with the U-23s after departing the clubs pre-season training camp in Austria to try and negotiate a move elsewhere.
The 30-year-old’s desire to remain in the top flight is clear after he reportedly turned down the advances of West Brom last week. This revelation has cleared the path for Aston Villa to try and broker a move for the former QPR hitman, as they seek to bolster their attacking options following the departure of loan star Tammy Abraham, who scored 26 goals last season for the Villains.
The signature of Austin still remains a risk, with his poor injury record now contributing to a drop in form that has rendered him surplus to requirements at Southampton, a club lacking any sort of distinct goal threat.
With this in mind, Villa and other potential suitors such as Sheffield United are looking elsewhere before pursuing a deal for Austin, and know that his low asking price and desire to leave make him a relative hassle-free insurance policy should they fail to land their top targets.
