The Express is reporting today that Liverpool are ready to challenge Newcastle United in the race for Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin, and it seems the Reds are willing to pay the full £15M that QPR Director of Football Les Ferdinand wants for his top striker.
Charlie Austin – Liverpool make move for the striker
Liverpool have signed Newcastle’s former striker target 22 yer-old Danny Ings from Burnley as a free agent, and now they are after another one of Newcastle targets – but Charlie is undoubtedly our number one striker target this summer.
Liverpool do need to bring in another striker, but according to the local Liverpool Echo, they really want Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke, but he may not be available for transfer, with manager Tim Sherwood unlikely to want to sell his best player this summer.
And Benteke is said to have a whopping £32.5M release clause in his contract.
It seems that good strikers are in real demand this summer, and if Liverpool do go after Austin, it could make it very difficult for Newcastle to land their number one target, and we have to hope the club are working hard right now to tie up a deal for the 25 year-old.
But Newcastle also have to show they can go in with the big boys, and persuade good players to sign for Newcastle – that will be the acid test this summer.
Chelsea have also been credited with an interest for Austin, although at the moment they are trying to arrange a loan deal for Monaco’s Radamel Falcao for next season, with a view to make the deal permanent next summer, and that’s said to be 90% complete.
One big issue is Radamel’s massive wages, and he’s being asked to take a cut in those wages to move to Stamford Bridge, and it remains to be seen if Loic Remy leaves the club, and therefore will need to be replaced – possibly with Austin.
It will be a massive disappointment for Newcastle fans if the club fail to sign Charlie Austin.
Comments welcome.
23 comments so far
Ron Knee
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:20 AM
Comment #1Repost
Lilo
Yes, it’s sad, given what players they were. As “ambassador”, Moncur has to toe the party line – or resign. But why was it necessary for Beardsley to tarnish his reputation by spouting all that PR bullsh*t?
Shot Bru
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:21 AM
Comment #2No surprise there then. Ings and Austin for 15 million would be decent business for Liverpool.
Shot Bru
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:24 AM
Comment #3I suppose Mc Laren wants his coaching team in place first before he gets down to the business of signing players…looks like the board of “footballing” directors still can’t multitask!!
sparky55
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Comment #4The key to this working is Zenden if he comes…we need him or someone like him that can make the team play football like everyone else is now rather than out the ball up the pitch ala Pardew and Carver.
If we don’t get Zenden or someone with a similar footballing background to train the midfield and get them playing the way they’ve brought up to play, then the job gets harder for SM because you won’t get 35 million of value buying good players in and then allowing them to be Pardewed or carved up…it’s ALL about the coaching and good coaches will actually fit Ashleys model better because the players will be worth more when sold on if they play better and get international recognition.
We have a much better chance of climbing the league if Zenden comes
Austin won’t go to Liverpool either…he won’t get any playing time and more importantly wants to stay in the South
Lilongwe Geordie
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:26 AM
Comment #5Ron Knee,
Beardsley is a poor coach though, and I’d imagine he is unlikely to get many job offers at Prem level if he left. If he spoke out he would likely be peddled. Still, is he that desperate for cash?
Moncur would likely be able to get a role in the media somewhere -particularly local media – if he stepped down as ambassador, he probably needs the cash more than Pedro.
Sazzer
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:30 AM
Comment #6Lilongwe Geordie
Dost is similar to Mitrovic but better. Carroll would be a decent backup. They would offer target guy that Cisse could feed of if playing 2 strikers. But if played with 1 striker then I agree that they are too similar to Cisse.
Austin is more all round than the above. Still dominant enough in the air and mobile enough to score from outside the box.
And Berahino is more like what we have in Perez.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:30 AM
Comment #7Sparky,
What makes you think Zenden can get a team playing? He hardly has much experience. Less than a year as Rafa’s assistant, and then a couple as an assistant manager for the PSV youth team.
ToonFromLeeds
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:32 AM
Comment #8Well said steve
https://nufcdigest.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/newcastle-united-handed-stark-reminder-about-squad-strength-by-steve-howey/
ToonFromLeeds
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:33 AM
Comment #9Zenden hasn’t done much tbh
Lilongwe Geordie
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:33 AM
Comment #10Sazzer,
Dost isn’t a target man. He hasn’t got the all round ability for a target man. He is a finisher and very little more from what I’ve seen, and going by what others have said on him what I have seen is a pretty accurate version of him. Mitrovic has far more all round ability than Dost, can hold up play better and bring others in.
Would want Mitrovic every day if given a choice between him and Dost.
mickalfas
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:35 AM
Comment #11Message to fatty
How will you feel next season when Austin and Ings tear us apart home and away
We could have had them both for £15m ,its OK, we have Riviere
You really couldn’t make it up
John Tudor
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:40 AM
Comment #12oh but he is making it up and coining your cash in hahah
lesh
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:41 AM
Comment #13It certainly won’t be a disappointment if Austin goes to Liverpool or elsewhere – we’re used to it!
deeps
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:45 AM
Comment #14Dutch International ‘To Sign 4-Year Deal At Newcastle’ – http://whatculture.com/sport/dutch-international-to-sign-4-year-deal-at-newcastle.php
Blackley and Brownlie
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:46 AM
Comment #15Jimmy
You say, “I think Collocini and S Taylor are possibly a top eight CB pairing, but Lascelles, Dummett and Good, doubtful to put it mildly. ”
Colo’s and Taylor’s departures are well overdue IMO. I’ve got time for Dummett at CB. I’ve seen nothing of Lascelles to suggest he’s an improvement.
Good is part of our ghost squad along with other ghosts such as Bigi, Fergie and Chucky.
deeps
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:46 AM
Comment #16Looks like dost is a done deal
John Tudor
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:48 AM
Comment #17we certainly have been done
sparky55
Jun 15, 2015 at 10:02 AM
Comment #18Lilo…Zenden was a class player, he’s intelligent and is already looking like a very good coach. if you were running a team and had a choice between pardew and Zenden coaching a good set of players to play football like the spanish and french, would you rather have someone that’s actually played at that level or someone like SM or pardew who haven’t…and as a player would you rather be coached by someone who is recognised the world over as a classy midfielder whose played for the best club team in the world and numerous caps for Spain or by the old bloke in the corner with the brolly.
thai-mag
Jun 15, 2015 at 10:04 AM
Comment #19I won’t be disappointed in the least because I knew it was a big no no from the start
lochinvar
Jun 15, 2015 at 10:37 AM
Comment #20Dost, Anita, Krul, Jannmatt with McLaren’s Dutch background – looks like a pattern emerging.
Strengthen and keep the ” Dutch connection” happy and remember Newcastle-Amsterdam is a short hop of a flight for family and friends visits etc. Actually makes sense – happy campers etc
If Austin goes to Liverpool that would be his biggest mistake – they are the new Spurs – failing to achieve despite money spent. Have to think with those sort of rumours that Sturridge is gone and that Rodgers is trying to placate the fans with positive vibes – he’ll be gone himself when Klopp turns up.
magpiefromatlanta
Jun 15, 2015 at 1:13 PM
Comment #21Austin powers not coming. Mr Ashley & co doesn’t like to get into bidding war.
Jaunmi, thauvin and defender from bundesliga are Newcastle board currently working behind doors. Dost is already on board!
WLtoon
Jun 15, 2015 at 5:11 PM
Comment #22@3
Why does Maclaren need to have his staff in place before he names his targets?
We are led to believe that the coach does.nt handle the deals for players anyway and that its Charnley who decides who comes and goes.
I think we are making excuses for our sheer lack of ambition
mactoon
Jun 15, 2015 at 7:43 PM
Comment #23Here we go again, the club wants £15 million we offer £10 million and another club snaps him up as they realise due to the extra TV and sponsorship money flooding the Premiership THEY CAN AFFORD IT.
Why we haven’t just offered the asking prices for Austin and Patrick Bamford to play as a front two in front of Perez simply astonishes me.
So much for a new era. McClaren is so intent on getting his coaching team in place the ‘football board’ seem to be letting the required type of player go to other clubs. God you couldn’t make it up!