Southampton sign Austin from QPR in £4m deal

Southampton have signed Charlie Austin from QPR for around £4m. 

The 26-year-old striker, whose contract at Loftus Road was due to expire this summer, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at St Mary’s.

Austin scored 18 goals for Rangers in the Premier League last term and was widely tipped to leave following the club’s relegation from the top flight.

He was linked with a host of clubs, including the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle, but only Leicester and Crystal Palace made approaches during the summer.

QPR wanted £15m for Austin then, but entered the current transfer window facing the prospect of losing him for no fee at the end of the campaign.

Austin played non-League football before Swindon Town signed him from Poole Town in 2009.

After prolific two-year spells with the Robins and Burnley, he moved to west London in 2013 and has since scored 48 goals for the R’s, 10 of them coming this season.

Meanwhile, Rangers are discussing a possible deal to sell Matt Phillips to Watford.

More to follow.