West Ham will revisit talks with QPR to sign striker Charlie Austin following Andy Carroll’s latest injury set-back, reports the Daily Star.
Our £15m record-signing, who was thought to be returning to the field by mid-September will now be looking at a return date of nearer the end of October as the club don’t want to risk further damage to his MCL injury suffered back in February.
With that in mind, and with deals for other strikers going no where, the Hammers have decided to make another attempt to prise the 25-year-old away from relegated QPR.
They are not alone in their efforts, as Steve McClaren and Newcastle are also looking at Austin, despite closing in on the £13m signing of highly-rated Anderlecht striker Aleksander Mitrovic.
AFC Bournemouth are also keen as manager Eddie Howe coached Austin while at Burnley, as are Leicester, who tested QPR’s resolve with a £12m offer earlier in the week, with the R’s declining, as they are standing firm on their £15m asking price for the striker who’s just broken into the national squad set-up.
West Ham’s striking woes were on full display midweek against Birkirkara, as James Tomkins dug the Hammers out of an embarrassing hole with a 90th min winner.
Modibo Maiga started that game, and proved he was not up to the task of leading the line in the absence of Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Carroll, which is why West Ham need to add a striker this summer if they want to compete on all fronts.
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