Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted that Charlie Austin’s future at the club is in the balance as the transfer deadline draws nearer.
Austin has been surrounded by transfer speculation in recent days regarding his Southampton future, but according to The Daily Echo, Hasenhuttl insisted that he is happy to keep the 29-year-old if he has to, saying:
We don’t want to send him away. If there is an option that he can make a good step and we get someone else then will have a look.
The Englishman has been the subject of several loan bids which have all be rejected, as Saints want to sell him permanently if he eventually leaves.
It was also reported that a bid in the region of £7m from a Championship side was turned down, with the player preferring to fight for his place in the side.
Cardiff City are said to be interested in Austin, along with several other clubs like Leicester and Wolves touted with a move throughout the window.
Saints have been strongly linked with a move for Birmingham City striker Che Adams but a deal looks unlikely this month, with Blues under a transfer embargo and unable to sign a replacement.
