Ralph Hasenhüttl admits Charlie Austin must leave Southampton to play | OneFootball

Charlie Austin reportedly turned down a move to the Championship in the January window and has only played 246 Premier League minutes in 2019.

Now Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has told Charlie Austin that he isn’t in his plans next season.

“Charlie is very clear on the situation that in the summer he must find another option where he plays more often. It depends how much he wants to play.

“That’s a situation you can handle for a few months or even a year but not for five years because you are not born as a footballer to sit on the bench and not play.

“If he comes to me and says, ‘Manager it was very nice to help you, it was very nice to be successful with your team, but I want to play more minutes and that’s why I want to leave.’ I’m the last guy who says you cannot.

“For every situation we find a solution and hopefully the best for the team and for him.”

Southampton are five points above the drop with four games to play, though they have a game in hand on 18th-placed Cardiff.

The Saints finish the season with games against Watford, Bournemouth, West Ham, and Huddersfield.