Steve Madeley: This is why Charlie Austin didn’t leave West Brom this summer
Athletic journalist Steve Madeley has explained that Charlie Austin’s wages and uncertainty were the major stumbling blocks in a potential move away from West Brom this summer.
Austin was linked with a move away from The Hawthorns as it was made clear that Slaven Bilic wanted to recruit a new striker to lead his line in the Premier League.
But, the 31-year-old was unable to secure a move and he remains with the Baggies and is yet to feature for Albion in the league since their return to the top flight.
Steve Madeley has explained that Albion were willing to let Austin leave on loan this summer but the player was ‘unsure’ and his ‘salary was a stumbling block’ despite interest from Cardiff City and Derby County.
The Athletic journalist went on to state that Austin and Bilic remain on ‘good terms’ despite the Baggies bosses’ decision to not include him in the most recent Albion matchday squads.
It seems unlikely that the former Southampton striker will ever play for West Brom again but it still remains to be seen why Bilic won’t use Austin in the Premier League.
Yes, Austin isn’t the player he once was but he has more Premier League experience than most of his teammates and, as he showed last season, he can still be a useful target man if Albion play to his strengths.
It is clear that Karlan Grant is Bilic’s forward of choice and it is likely Hal Robson-Kanu and Callum Robinson will provide back up once the former returns from injury.
But it is wrong to suggest that Austin can’t be of some use to the Baggies in the Premier League. Even if it was to provide another attacking body in the late stages of the game, Austin is exactly the kind of player who will pop up with a last-minute header out of nowhere.
However, it seems that Austin’s Hawthorns career is over and perhaps we will see him secure a move away in January.
In other West Brom news, David Coote will referee Saturday’s tie against the Red Devils after being controversially taken off VAR duty in another Premier League game.
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