NUFC ‘exclusive’ claims Bruce wants to sign £8m Premier League striker – Good luck with that..

Steve Bruce wants to sign Southampton outcast Charlie Austin according to an ‘exclusive’ from Football Insider.

It probably goes without saying, but this is a transfer rumour that’s worth taking with a pinch of salt for a whole host of reasons.

Austin has been demoted to the Saints’ reserves over pre-season, with him clearly not in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans and available for an alleged £8m as a result, however I can’t see this one happening.

We do need at least TWO strikers, with Rondon gone and both Perez and Joselu sold, but Austin does not fit into Mike Ashley’s transfer blue print.

He may be happy to pay big money move for Joelinton – a 22-year-old with high sell on value – but I don’t see him sanctioning a move for a 30-year-old Austin.

Not only does he fall outside of Ashley’s ’26 and under’ policy, his best days appear to be behind him, with him bagging 15 goals in 64 Premier League appearances over the past three seasons and often struggling with reoccurring injury issues.

He would be a very handy Joselu replacement, being a decent goalscorer on his day, but this seems like a non starter for the current regime – unless he’s being flogged on the cheap.

Like recent links with moves for Everton duo Bolasie and McCarthy (30 and 29), this is another transfer rumour that belongs in the dubious category’.

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