Charlie Austin told he can leave Southampton this summer | OneFootball

The Southampton career of Charlie Austin looks set to come to an end.

He has been told by the club that he is free to find a new home in the summer transfer window.

Austin has had a frustrating time of it at St Mary’s and has started just four games since the turn of the year.

Ralph Hasenhüttl admitted after Saturday’s defeat at Newcastle that the striker will likely move on.

“It depends how much he wants to play,” the man in charge told reporters.

“You can handle a situation like that for a few months or half a year but not five years.

“You aren’t born as a footballer to sit on the bench and not play.

“He knows that in the summer, he must maybe find another option so that he plays more.

“If he comes to me and says ‘it was nice to help you but I want to play more minutes and have to leave’, I’m the last guy to say ‘no because I need you here.’

“We find a solution for every situation and hopefully the best for the team and for him.”

Austin arrived at Southampton from Queens Park Rangers in January 2016.