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Crystal Palace must move for reportedly available Southampton ace Charlie Austin

Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
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The Southampton front-man would be a welcome addition for Crystal Palace.

Charlie Austin during a Southampton FC training session at the Staplewood Campus on January 10, 2019 in Southampton, England.

According to a report from the Telegraph, Charlie Austin could be set to leave Southampton this month, and he would be the ideal January addition for Crystal Palace.

Roy Hodgson will be desperate to add an established striker to his ranks at Selhurst Park this month, with his side really struggling in front of goal this season.

Austin, 29, is a proven goalscorer, having bagged 148 times in 314 career appearances, and he would slot right in with the Eagles.

The Englishman is really strong in the air, and he would act as a fantastic focal point for Crystal Palace to build their attacking play through.

Austin isn’t the quickest, but he possesses excellent movement, and he is well-versed in finding tiny pockets of space in and around the 18-yard box.

On top of all that, the former Burnley and Queens Park Rangers hitman is an excellent finisher.

Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton FC at Wembley Stadium on December 5,...

Palace have plenty of players who are easy on the eye, but they really do lack that clinical edge in the final third – something that Austin would certainly offer them.

Quite how much the Southampton striker would cost is unclear, but with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2020, he shouldn’t prove to be too expensive, and Hodgson must not hesitate to bring him to south London this month.

It could turn out to be a signing of real significance for Crystal Palace.

Charlie Austin of Southampton reacts during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom.