Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Charlie Austin, Javier Hernandez Rumours

It’s looking like a case of one striker in and one striker out for Manchester United, with reports suggesting the Red Devils are set to land Queens Park Rangers star Charlie Austin before selling Mexico international Javier Hernandez to Bayer Leverkusen.

According to David Wright of the Daily Express, United have emerged as the “big favourites” to sign Austin from the Championship side. Wright cites bookmakers Sky Bet, who have slashed the odds on the 26-year-old joining the Red Devils from 33-1 to 4-6. Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have also been linked with a move for the £15 million-rated forward.

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Austin was arguably the sole positive in a dismal 2014-15 season for QPR. He was a superb presence at the point of the team and, as we can see below per WhoScored.com, scored a massive chunk of his side’s goals:

United could certainly do with a player who possesses his proven Premier League goalscoring instincts; Austin netted 18 goals in the top flight last season, per WhoScored.com. Current centre-forward Wayne Rooney is struggling for his best form in domestic matches, and a player like the Rangers man would certainly relieve some of the pressure on the skipper.

As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, this current drought is the longest of Rooney’s illustrious career:

The prospect of joining United would surely appeal to Austin too. While he may have to wait for some starting opportunities, with better service he could potentially thrive at Old Trafford. The QPR man may not possess the hold-up skills, creativity and dynamism that compare to the elite-level forwards, but for United, a player who knows where the back of the net is will be vital.

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Especially with Hernandez set to depart. According to Simon Jones of the MailOnline, the popular Mexican has agreed to join Bayer Leverkusen for £12 million and will sign a three-year deal with the Bundesliga giants.

As noted here by Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News, even with United chasing a goal in the latter stages of their loss to Swansea City on Sunday, manager Louis van Gaal decided not to call upon Hernandez, which was a pretty damning assessment of the player:

According to Jones, Van Gaal gave a speech in which he thanked Hernandez for his service to United, having spent five years at Old Trafford. After a blistering first season, the man dubbed Chicharito was unable to nail down a spot in the first team for the Red Devils, forging a subsequent reputation as a super sub.

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However, Cristian Nyari of FCB Media thinks even at the BayArena, Hernandez could find minutes pretty difficult to come by:

Austin isn’t too many shades removed from Hernandez. While the latter’s game is based on darting movements and the former is a little more static in his play, they are both out-and-out goalscorers who offer little in terms of general play.

It makes Van Gaal’s apparent pursuit of Austin a little peculiar. For a team like United, who keep possession meticulously under the Dutchman, it’s tough to see what the Englishman will offer against packed defences. But if Hernandez does leave the club in the coming hours, the Red Devils will only have one senior striker to call upon and in desperate times, perhaps Austin is worth the risk.