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Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed during his Crystal Palace pre-match press conference, via Sky Sports, that Charlie Austin could leave the club before the end of the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

Hasenhuttl told reporters on Monday, as quoted by Sky Sports:

“Sometimes you get to a point when you as a club can’t give a player what he expects us to give him so in this situation we are trying to find a win-win situation for both sides.

“I think he has played two times from the beginning since I have been here. He is a fantastic striker who can score for every team. He is 100 per cent professional, he shows the team that if we need him he is here.

“But like every player he wants to start from the beginning and if there is not the option here in Southampton then maybe he will be looking for another club where he has this option.

“Then we have to talk about these things. We don’t send any player away but if there is a different option for him it can be he is an option for another club.”

Austin joined Southampton from Queens Park Rangers in January 2016.

The centre-forward has managed 20 goals in 72 appearances in all competitions for the Saints, as per Transfermarkt, but has netted just two Premier League goals this season.

Hasenhuttl has admitted that he will be unable to give Austin the football that he wants in the second half of the season, which could lead to an exit.

The 29-year-old has actually only started two Premier League matches since Hasenhuttl replaced Mark Hughes as head coach at the start of December.

Should Southampton fight to keep him?

Austin’s Premier League record is 34 goals in 97 appearances, suggesting that the striker certainly knows how to find the back of the net at the top level.

Southampton recorded a 2-1 win over Everton in the Premier League last time out, but the Saints are far from safe in the top flight.

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Austin – valued at £9m by Transfermarkt – will only have 12 months left on his Southampton contract this summer and a move at the end of the 2018-19 campaign makes sense for all involved.

For now, the Saints, who face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday night, must fight to keep hold of a player who is certainly capable of coming off the bench and scoring some vital goals before the end of the season.

That said, Austin is understandably desperate to secure regular football at this stage of his career and a move away this month is looking increasingly likely.