Bournemouth want to sign Austin in record deal

LONDON: Manager Eddie Howe wants to smash Bournemouth’s transfer record to land Charlie Austin (pic).

The Cherries boss will pay £14mil (RM82mil) for Queens Park Rangers striker Austin, 25, who fired 18 Premier League goals in his debut top-flight season for the relegated club.

Howe is a huge admirer after working with Austin at Burnley – and plans to open talks with QPR chiefs this week.

A Bournemouth insider said: “Eddie has always loved Charlie. In fact, six years ago when he was playing for Poole in non-league, Eddie tried to sign him.

“But at the time he had to back out of the deal because the club was hit with a transfer embargo – and he ended up going to Swindon instead.”

Howe was hoping to snap up Austin for £10mil (RM58mil) – but those plans were dashed after Leicester had a £12mil (RM70mil) bid rejected.

Bournemouth are ready to back Howe with serious financial muscle, having already forked out an £8mil (RM47mil) fee for Ipswich defender Tyrone Mings.

And Austin, also on Newcastle’s radar, would take no time to settle in the area.

He played for nearby Poole Town while working as a bricklayer – and still has a home there.