Austin to Burnley for £1.2 mill?

[manilaseagull]

The League One side confirmed last week that they had received enquiries about Austin from several Championship clubs, and this is believed to have triggered the 21 year old to place his request in.

Austin, on 17 goals for the season in a struggling Swindon side in addition to the 20 he scored last term following his October 2009 move from Poole is believed disappointed that offers for him had been turned down.

Burnley are now thought to be front runners for the player, with new manager Eddie Howe placing a £1.2 million bid for the player he had on trial at Bournemouth prior to Austin's move to The County Ground. At The Cherries, Howe couldn’t raise the necessary funds to get the player for his side who had been working under a transfer embargo.

Now at The Clarets, finance will no longer be an issue for Howe who will have all the ammunition to secure the hottest prospect in League One. It may be the Clarets have to up their bid after testing the water with £1.2million. Millwall are on the verge of a massive cash injection and QPR with Bernie Ecclestone's backing are serious contenders. The interest isn't limited to The Championship either with Birmingham City, desperate to add fire power to their Premier League survival battle, they also have Charlie on the radar.



It could come down to Howe's personal connection with Austin, being the first to give him a chance? Where were the others when Charlie was at Poole Town?

Burnley in pole position to secure Swindon Town striker Charlie Austin

 

[Biscuit]

I don't think he's worth it. We'll see. Huge amount of money for a club like us and would seriously upset the balance. It'll be a hell of set up.

 

[supaseagull]

I'm surprised only £1.2 million...I would have thought nearer the £2mil considering his goalscoring record over the last couple of seasons.

 

[Gerbil]

Over 1million? big risk for Burnley.

 

[Smithy07]

Over 1million? big risk for Burnley.

So a player who has scored the best part of 40 league 1 goals for Swindon in one and a half seasons is a big risk at £1 million yet you guys claim that Elliott Bennett is worth at least double that?

 

[bhaexpress]

At £1.2 million a big gamble as the bloke has had one good season playing with Billy Paynter (who has made two starts and eight from the bench and scored no goals at Leeds) so Burnley are welcome.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

So a player who has scored the best part of 40 league 1 goals for Swindon in one and a half seasons is a big risk at £1 million yet you guys claim that Elliott Bennett is worth at least double that?

Benno can play in defence AND midfield , provides the assists and scores goals.

 

[Gerbil]

So a player who has scored the best part of 40 league 1 goals for Swindon in one and a half seasons is a big risk at £1 million yet you guys claim that Elliott Bennett is worth at least double that?

Anything over £1million is a risk for A league one player

 

[manilaseagull]

1.2 million is way to much.....he might be swindons main goal scorer but in the games I have seen this year he brings little else to the team.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

It's not that big a gamble is it? He scored 20 goals last season and he didn't make his debut until october. He's scored 17 already this season and that's in a team that has lost several key players including his strike partner. It seems clear that he's a bit of a goal machine at this level. Why would the goals suddenly dry up at the level above? He's only 21, too so has a lot of time to improve. I think that Burnley have got a bit of a bargain, considering that they've got the premier league parachute payments sloshing around in their bank account.

 

[Marshy]

So a player who has scored the best part of 40 league 1 goals for Swindon in one and a half seasons is a big risk at £1 million yet you guys claim that Elliott Bennett is worth at least double that?

I agree i think 1.2m is a reasonable price, i think 1.5 for him wouldnt be too much either

 

[bhaexpress]

It's not that big a gamble is it? He scored 20 goals last season and he didn't make his debut until october. He's scored 17 already this season and that's in a team that has lost several key players including his strike partner. It seems clear that he's a bit of a goal machine at this level. Why would the goals suddenly dry up at the level above? He's only 21, too so has a lot of time to improve. I think that Burnley have got a bit of a bargain, considering that they've got the premier league parachute payments sloshing around in their bank account.

Last season he was playing with Paynter in a side that was a lot better than the current one. He's not been a prolific scorer this season has he ? However if Swidon can get that much for him good luck to them.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

So a player who has scored the best part of 40 league 1 goals for Swindon in one and a half seasons is a big risk at £1 million yet you guys claim that Elliott Bennett is worth at least double that?

Not all posters have the same opinion on lots of subjects/valuations/jokes/etc, quite amazingly.

 

[sydney]

he'll do alright at championship level.........not gonna get burnley up single handed though. not a done deal yet by all accounts.

 

[bhaexpress]

So a player who has scored the best part of 40 league 1 goals for Swindon in one and a half seasons is a big risk at £1 million yet you guys claim that Elliott Bennett is worth at least double that?

Bennett is on form and has not asked for a transfer. He is also with a club who don't need the money and don't want to sell, none of this applies to Austin. His value is what Brighton think and not what Norwich can afford.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Last season he was playing with Paynter in a side that was a lot better than the current one. He's not been a prolific scorer this season has he ? However if Swidon can get that much for him good luck to them.

he's scored 17 goals this season. 12 of them in the league. I reckon that's an excellent return considering he's in a not very good team.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Austin is okay in a goalhanging sort of way,and Burnley with their parachute payments can probably afford to take any risk that comes from buying a young player who knows where the goal is.

 

[Seecider]

Burnley are now thought to be front runners for the player, with new manager Eddie Howe placing a £1.2 million bid for the player he had on trial at Bournemouth prior to Austin's move to The County Ground. At The Cherries, Howe couldn’t raise the necessary funds to get the player for his side who had been working under a transfer embargo.

It could come down to Howe's personal connection with Austin, being the first to give him a chance? Where were the others when Charlie was at Poole Town?



Burnley in pole position to secure Swindon Town striker Charlie Austin

The rumour doing the rounds in West Wilts is that he is off to Soton for £2m with David Connolly going the other way

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

So a player who has scored the best part of 40 league 1 goals for Swindon in one and a half seasons is a big risk at £1 million yet you guys claim that Elliott Bennett is worth at least double that?

It's not so much what Bennett may be worth, but what might persuade us to sell him.

 

[severnside gull]

somewhere between £1m and £1.5 with add-ons sounds a likely punt while £2m seems too much to be honest - it doesn't sound right and I think that now the rumour mill is in hyperdrive (as with Ryan Harley) you will find every possible club being mentioned. For Austin in career terms, Burnley has to be the best bet and he could do well playing off Iwelumo who was never the most mobile of strikers.

Best quote on the Burnley forum "can we call him Ethel?"