Last night the TalkSport journalist Ian Abrahams sent a Tweet linking Spurs with a move for Charlie Austin.
Bit of transfer gossip around here tonight, Spurs are interested in Charlie Austin
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) June 24, 2015
Whether or not there’s any truth in the rumour, it could be an interesting option for the club to explore. Austin scored 18 Premier League goals last season for a side that were relegated, making him the second top scoring Englishman in the Premier League after our own Harry Kane.
He’s available for £15m, which isn’t a huge amount in today’s market for a player who’s just had a very successful season and has just been called up for the latest England squad. Austin has been heavily linked with a range of clubs, from the likes of West Ham and Newcastle, to a possible role as cover for Diego Costa at Chelsea.
The player has complained today that QPR’s valuation has priced him out of a move but it’s not an unrealistic one from the club’s point of view. What’s perhaps putting off buyers are the doubts that remain about Austin’s ability.
While the goals flowed last season it was noticeable that QPR were reluctant to play him as a lone-striker – which is where he’d play in most Premier League club’s formations. He is a brilliantly instinctive finisher within the box but is sometimes less impressive when contributing to general play further back (though not nearly as bad as some make out).
That said, when you’re talking about a 25-year old who has risen from the depths of non-league to the top flight and remained a prolific scorer throughout, it would be silly to suggest that Austin is a player who can’t meet challenges and improve.
For Spurs, the biggest question is how he would work with and without, Kane. A combination of the two with Kane in the deeper role could work well, though we might have hoped for an injection of real pace to complement Kane’s strength and guile. When Kane’s being rested, the onus would be on Austin to prove that he could cut it playing alone for a top club.
One senses that the signing Austin might not be Mauricio Pochettino’s top priority this summer, but that he’d be somewhere on the list. He represents something of a gamble, yet in the area of the market that Tottenham are looking at, so does every striker. Spurs could do a lot worse.
About time he was mentioned. Levy says we want premiership proven players, preferably English, around 10-15 million and ignores a player scoring plenty of goals in the top division ! Strange. Guarantee we end up with another Carlos Kickaball needing 6 seasons to ‘bed’ in, or better still retain Bobby Nogoals and Avi Aduover
A no brainer,get it done,proven premiership goal scorer in a very shit team
Charlie Austin is not worth £5 million. No footballing brain, No finesse, no close control, Championship quality at best.
Get it done Levy you know it makes sense just hope if we do the businnes he does not end up like Adebyor or Liverpool`s centre forward Balotelli or that other lig liverpool bought from Southampton (can`t remember his name ) !
Yea no finesse, championship quality at best. Really, so he fluked 18 premiership goals last season then?
Personally I prefer Berahino but if the price is right then what’s the problem. We should be able to persuade him if his best other choice is Newcastle.
Not bad option would not mind having a punt at dzeco tho bigger problems on the wings tho Townsend lamela and Lennon got Prichard get konoplyanka and if rumours are true shaquri from inter maybe let lamela swap and We get some money too.
Prices for English players are over inflated but that said it’s the same for all clubs. I think he could do well at Spurs with Harry Kane playing just behind him. Buying a foreign player who has no EPL experience is a huge risk even if they have a great scoring record in their own country or in Europe just look at our own Roberto Soldado!
Put Yedlin on the wing, fast,great crosser and good cover for the right back Austin better than Ings, Worth a punt!
He’s going on loan. Seems like next season if he’s good enough,poch gonna put him on the wing based on some reports saying that poch acknowledge his talent in attacking
Absolutely! !! Go get him DL great strong forward direct player and scores too, bet if we dont sign him he scores a hat trick against us.. any takers.?
Watching Charlie Austin playing football has an ‘old school’ look about it. Played with strength and determination this man scores goals. I wouldn’t hesitate in signing him up. He has a look of having fun playing at this level. I like his attitude on the pitch.
Just out of interest, why haven’t we ever been linked with Demba Ba?
The guy sells for next to nothing and has undoubtedly got ability in the air and on the ground.
I could name at least 5 players either ex prem or current premiership who could certainly enhance our squad and have proven their worth; oh go on then I will. Ba, Cabaye, Mirelles, Berahino, Austin, Bolaise, and the guy who was at Southampton, Anderweireld or whatever his name is.
There are others, the likes of Benteke and Sneiderling but either the price keeps going up or as in Sneiderlings case he just isn’t interested.
I, like most people would love us to get talent like Martial but the above list must be very possible and like I said: proven!