Wednesday 20 May 2015 18:45, UK
Charlie Austin, Saido Berahino and Danny Ings are hot property this summer after impressing in the Premier League – but what will the transfer window hold for the talented trio?
Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham are among the clubs linked with moves for the strikers.
With speculation rife, we take a look at their records in the 2014/15 campaign, what’s been said about them and their likely destinations…
CHARLIE AUSTIN - QPR
GOALS: 17 (175mins/goal)
ASSISTS: 5
SHOOTING ACC: 66.23 (third of PL forwards)
SPECULATION: Southampton, Newcastle and Tottenham are reportedly keen on the QPR striker, following Rangers’ relegation to the Championship.
TRANSFER ODDS: Newcastle 6/4, Tottenham 4/1, Southampton 8/1
HE SAYS: “I'll leave my agent to speak to [director of football] Les Ferdinand, [manager] Chris Ramsey and [chairman] Tony Fernandes. They've been very supportive of me - even to take me after what happened at Hull (when a transfer from Burnley failed due to a medical). They took a gamble; that's easy to say. I feel I've contributed over the last two years but we've just fallen short this season.” – Charlie Austin in May
QPR SAY: “This club isn't going to be a bargain bucket. Charlie has had a fantastic year in terms of scoring in the Premier League with 17 in his debut season. Can we keep him? We are going to sit down with Charlie and talk to him. But it will come down to him and his agent to decide what's best for Charlie Austin. I'm not even going to talk about what figure we will ask for from other clubs because we are going to try and keep him.” – Les Ferdinand, director of football
PUNDIT VIEW: “He has been absolutely amazing. I look at Austin as a bit of a throw-back. He gets across defenders, he’s brave, he’s good in the air... I love the honesty that he plays with. He has a great attitude for the game. I’ve watched QPR train a lot and he practises for hours and hours after training, hitting shots and rifling them into the corner.” – Jamie Redknapp
SAIDO BERAHINO – WEST BROM
GOALS: 14 (203 mins/goal)
ASSISTS: 1
SHOOTING ACC: 54.41 (19th of PL forwards)
SPECULATION: Manchester City could sign the West Brom ace to boost their English contingent and provide back-up to Sergio Aguero, according to reports. However, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are also supposedly tracking the forward.
TRANSFER ODDS: Liverpool 7/2, Man Utd 4/1, Tottenham 6/1, Man City 20/1
HE SAYS: “If I can keep them in the Premier League and score as many goals as I can, I’m pretty sure the fans wouldn’t mind me pushing on and going on to bigger things.” – Saido Berahino in February
WEST BROM SAY: “I think the kid should stay. I have said that to him. I think he could do with another ten years at West Bromwich Albion!” – Tony Pulis, manager
PUNDIT VIEW: “I think Berahino has got a bit more class and is a slightly better player [than Danny Ings]. But if I was Liverpool I'd be trying to sign Ings. The way Ings comes across and the way Berahino comes across, you think ‘will there be a problem with Berahino, maybe an attitude problem?’ With Ings, you hear him speak, he says: 'Let your football do the talking.” – Jamie Carragher
DANNY INGS - BURNLEY
GOALS: 10 (295 mins/goal)
ASSISTS: 4
SHOOTING ACC: 43.84 (48th of PL forwards)
SPECULATION: Ings is available on a free transfer and manager Sean Dyche has publicly confirmed he will leave this summer. Liverpool were strongly linked in January and are reported to be ahead of Tottenham and Manchester United in the race for his signature.
TRANSFER ODDS: Liverpool 1/2, Tottenham 7/2, Man Utd 4/1
HE SAYS: “I came here as an 18-year-old boy and the first two years were extremely tough with injuries. Since then, every year I’ve grown more and more into a man and I can’t thank Burnley Football Club enough for everything they’ve done for me.” – Danny Ings in May
BURNLEY SAY: “It’s been good to see his development but it looks like that’s not going to continue with us. I think we’ve played a big part in how he’s moved forward. He’s played a big part equally, he’s helped with his contribution to the side and this football club. He’s been a big part of the last two seasons. But the sounds coming out of him and his agent make it probable that he will be going elsewhere.” – Sean Dyche, manager
PUNDIT VIEW: “I think his touch is fantastic. He maybe doesn’t get the high quality stuff into him that he would probably want, and I would imagine lots of clubs are looking at him. He’s applying himself well.” – Gary Neville
