Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed that Charlie Austin will be able to leave the club if an offer comes in.

The striker’s future at St Mary’s has been subject to increased speculation over the weekend after a number of reports emerged suggesting he would be sold.

And Hasenhuttl revealed that both Saints, and Austin, are looking for a resolution to the issue.

“I think it’s sometimes the point that you as a club can’t give any player what he expects us to give him,” the Austrian said.

“In this situation we are trying to find a win-win situation for both sides.

“In Charlie’s situation he played two times from the beginning since I am here and is a fantastic striker who can score for any team.

“He is 100 per cent professional and shows the team he is here, and like against Arsenal, if you need him he is immediately in the game.

“As a player he wants to play from the beginning in the starting XI, and if there is not the option here in Southampton, maybe he looks for another club where he has this option and then we need to talk about this.

“We don’t send any player away but if there is a different option for him there could be a conversation with another club.”

It’s been reported that Wolves, Galatasaray and Aston Villa are all keen on signing the 29-year-old who has 18 months left on his Saints contract.

Austin joined Saints in January 2016 from Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £4m.

He has gone on to play 67 matches in total, scoring 18 times, including on his debut against Manchester United.

However, the target man has only featured once since his two-game suspension was confirmed by the FA after he made an inappropriate gesture towards the Manchester City fans.

And due to Danny Ings’ return to fitness and Hasenhuttl seeing Nathan Redmond as a striker, his chances of playing are looking slim.

Hasenhuttl added: “He’s an interesting player for another clubs.

“For these two striking positions we have four or five players if Obafemi comes back.

“We have a lot of options for these two position and other players can play in front.

“It is a possibility he is leaving and if not, I am happy he is here and helping us with the targets we have to have wins in the future.”