Town appear to be getting closer to completing the signing of Swindon striker Charlie Austin. The Robins have accepted a bid believed to be somewhere between £1.5 million and the £2 million figure originally targeted by League One club, presumably including various clauses. The Blues have been given permission to discuss personal terms with the former Poole frontman and we understand talks are currently taking place.
Burnley, Blackpool and Southampton are understood to have made offers for the 21-year-old with some reports claiming they have also been given permission to talk to the player, Austin having handed in a transfer request last week much to manager Danny Wilson's annoyance.
But Town continue to look very much in the driving seat and are understood to have offered the player a three-and-a-half-year deal at Portman Road.
Austin was not expected to train with the Robins today with Swindon director Jeremy Wray anticipating that the striker's exit would be confirmed in the near future: "It could come to a conclusion in the next 24 hours. We will hold out for the best bid for Swindon Town and for Charlie Austin.”
The Blues were previously linked with the £2 million-rated frontman in December 2009 soon after the former bricklayer’s emergence from non-league.
Austin was with Reading’s youth set-up as a schoolboy but dropped out of the professional game, playing with Thatcham Town and hometown side Hungerford Town before joining Wessex League Premier Division club Poole Town in 2008/09.
The 6ft 2in tall striker scored a hugely impressive 46 goals in 46 starts and two sub appearances as the Dolphins won their league by 17 points and also picked up the Dorset Senior Cup.
In the summer of 2009, Austin spent time training with Bournemouth but was unable to join the League Two side due to their transfer embargo. Instead, he signed for Swindon until the end of the 2009/10 season for an undisclosed fee in early October, having already netted 18 goals in 11 appearances for Poole, who remained in the same division despite winning the previous season’s championship.
Austin, who subsequently extended his contract until 2012, netted a further 20 goals for Swindon in his first season in professional football, helping them into the League One play-off final where they were beaten by Millwall.
This season he has continued in a similar vein, scoring 17 times and taking his overall record with Swindon to 58 starts, seven sub appearances and 37 goals.
Town chief executive Simon Clegg was spotted at Playford Road this morning, presumably to meet with manager Paul Jewell regarding the Austin deal and Jimmy Bullard's loan switch from Hull, which was confirmed this morning.
Meanwhile, we understand there is nothing in this morning's reports linking Jason Scotland with a return to his former club Swansea.