Liverpool were loosely linked with Charlie Austin back in January. However, our interest came to nothing as Queens Park Rangers desperately clung to the one man who might drag them out of the relegation fight.
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Six months later and despite Austin’s 17 Premier League goals – less only that Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Diego Costa – Rangers have been relegated straight back to the Championship. Indeed, they currently sit bottom of the table with just one game to play.
The original Liverpool-Austin link, which can be seen here in the Daily Mirror, was based on the fact that he had just 18 months (now just over 12) left on his contract and that we were in desperate need of a goalscorer.
Neither of those things have changed but yet, this still doesn’t appeal as a viable option, making the comments of QPR director of football Les Ferdinand all the more bewildering. We need a proven striker this summer, one that has more than a single season of moderate Premier League success to their name.
Ferdinand told the Daily Mirror: “We would love to keep Charlie Austin at QPR. It’s up to us to try and keep the wolves from the door but you’re never going to stop them from knocking and coming in.”
If we are one of the ‘wolves’ that Ferdinand is referring too, then maybe he should relax a little more. We’re all expecting (hoping) Brendan Rodgers’ targets are aimed a little higher. Austin will do well in the Championship, which is probably still where he belongs.