Villa again linked with Austin, Blues again linked with Martinez

A round-up of the latest transfer speculation involving the area’s clubs as the January window approaches….

Speculation continues over the future of Charlie Austin. 

Aston Villa are among the clubs that have been linked with the QPR striker and the Daily Star Sunday have again claimed that the Premier League strugglers plan to offer Rangers £8m for him.

Austin, whose contract is due to expire at the end of the season, has been holding out for a move to a top club. Villa are currently nine points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table.

However, it is claimed that they are in the running to sign him and see Austin as the ideal man to get them out of the Championship if they are relegated this season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have again been linked with striker Jackson Martinez, this time by the Sunday Mirror.

Tottenham are also said to be keen on the Colombian striker, who has failed to impress since moving to Atletico Madrid.

Martinez, 29, was widely reported to be a Chelsea target prior to his move to Spain from Porto, but the then Blues boss Jose Mourinho denied the club were interested.

It is now claimed that Chelsea and Spurs are battling to sign him ahead of the January window.

There has been speculation that he could move to Stamford Bridge in exchange for former Atletico star Diego Costa.

And Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has urged the club to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton, according to the Star.