Wolves have been surprisingly quiet in the January transfer window so far but might spring to life in the coming days as they have been linked with a move for Southampton striker Charlie Austin.
Austin hasn’t featured regularly for the Saints this season, having made just eight starts for the club in the Premier League.
According to the Telegraph, Austin has come to an agreement with Southampton to leave in the on-going transfer window should the club receive the right fee for the forward.
Austin joined the Saints in 2015 after an impressive spell at QPR where he scored 18 Premier League goals in the 2014/15 season, but couldn’t save them from relegation to the Championship.
At 29, Austin still has something to offer and we look at if he is the right player for Wolves.
Austin – A good backup for Jimenez at Wolves?
There is no doubt that Austin would largely be a backup signing, so it’s unlikely he’ll see more playing time at Wolves.
At his peak a few years ago, Austin was a tough player to mark in the box and his finishing was immaculate, which helped him score 18 goals in a season at a struggling club like QPR.
However, Austin’s powers have been on the wane after a series of injuries that haven’t allowed him to play at the top of his game like he did at Loftus Road.
Austin has scored 20 goals in 72 games for Southampton, and though that isn’t the best record for a striker, considering his injuries and start-and-stop career he has had at St. Marys, it’s certainly not the worst return.
Unlike Jiménez, though, Austin isn’t the most skilful on the ball and is perhaps suited to a more direct style of play as his strengths are often in the penalty box. Jimenez is a much better player to be involved in the build-up play, which is why he has done well under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Austin’s workrate is pretty impressive, so that’s one area he can help the team. And considering Wolves have good wingers, the 29-year old might get a good number of chances to show his strengths if he does sign for Wolves.
Austin has a contract with Southampton until the summer of 2020, so if Wolves can get him below £10 million, it might be a shrewd deal by the club.