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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to The Sun, Crystal Palace are among four English sides all interested in signing Southampton striker Charlie Austin this summer.
What’s the deal, then?
The 29-year-old has been at St Mary’s since 2016, but now it has been reported that boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is willing to let him go.
Aston Villa, Fulham and West Brom are all also said to be keeping tabs on the former QPR man for what would be a permanent deal.
There were several bids for Austin back in January but they were all for loan spells, something the south coast club were not keen to entertain.
But now it seems they are happy to accept £8m for the man who scored three goals in 22 appearances for Saints last season, and the Eagles could be poised to snap him up.
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Austin does not fit with how Hodgson wants Palace to play
The fans at Selhurst Park have been deprived of a prolific striker for some time now given they often had to rely on playing Wilfried Zaha upfront or using Christian Benteke as the frontman – a player who struggled all season and netted just once in 16 league games.
However, given Austin’s recent form it does not seem he would be the answer to Roy Hodgson’s striker issues.
Palace play quick counter-attacking football with Zaha and Andros Townsend getting forward from wide areas.
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And finishing off quick moves up the pitch is not Austin’s forte – in addition, the 6 ft 2 star hasn’t scored more than seven goals in a Premier League campaign since 2014/15 when he netted 18 for QPR.
It is clear his game now is more about being a target man and Palace should be looking more at someone who can swiftly finish off fast moves alongside Zaha and Townsend.
If the Englishman does end up at the London club he is only good enough to be a back-up for a forward more suited to their style of play.
