Paper Talk: Austin’s new deal to contain release clause

Charlie Austin, Emmanuel Adebayor, Ashley Cole in the news

QPR plan to offer Charlie Austin a new deal, Ashley Cole has vowed to stay at Roma, while Emmanuel Adebayor will sit tight at Tottenham.

AUSTIN’S NEW DEAL TO INCLUDE RELEASE CLAUSE

Charlie Austin is set to be offered a release clause if he signs a new deal at Queens Park Rangers, to ensure the club is not left out of pocket.

That’s according to the Daily Mirror, who say the striker will be offered the new deal to ensure he retains his value to the R’s, who fear losing the £15million striker for nothing when his contract expires next summer.

The Hoops failed to pull in the £15million they had demanded over the summer after his 18 Premier League goals last term for a side that ended up getting relegated.

They rejected two bids – both of £12m, from Leicester and Crystal Palace – and held their nerve, insistent that they would not sell for less than their asking price. Newcastle and Everton were also credited with an interest, though neither made an official bid.

With an offer of £15m not materialising, however, Rangers must now try to persuade Austin to sign a new deal – or risk allowing him to speak to foreign clubs from January, which could result in him leaving on a Bosman next summer.

It is thought any new deal would contain the same £15million release clause – but will protect QPR at least from losing their prized asset for nothing.

Last month, Rangers’ director of football Les Ferdinand insisted the club were justified in sticking to their valuation for the player.

Ferdinand said: “When you look at what Christian Benteke went for [£32.5m, from Aston Villa to Liverpool], I don’t think we’re pricing him out the market.

“Jordan Rhodes is in the Championship with Blackburn and Middlesbrough turned down £13m [for him].”

COLE WANTS ROMA STAY

Ashley Cole insists he is happy to stay with Roma, despite being sidelined in Serie A and left out of their Champions League squad.

The ex-Chelsea and Arsenal defender joined the Serie A club on a two-year deal last year but fell out of favour after just a few months.

Former England stalwart Cole was left out of coach Rudi Garcia’s squad for Roma’s first two matches of this season – and earlier this week was not even listed on the club’s website as one of their players.

Newcastle tried unsuccessfully to bring the player back to the Premier League on transfer deadline day, but the Daily Mirror claims he intends to remain in Italy to see out his remaining year.

A source close to the the 34-year-old said: “He’s not going to be cancelling his contract to go back to play for a lower-level club.

“He’ll stay where he is and then consider his options.”

Roma have signed 22-year-old Lucas Digne on loan from French champions Paris Saint-Germain to play at left-back.

France international Digne played the full 90 minutes in his debut — a 2-1 win over defending champions Juventus.

 

LACK OF MOVE COSTS SPURS OVER ADEBAYOR 

Emmanuel Adebayor will pocket £5m at Spurs despite not playing after being left out of the club’s squads for the Premier League and Europa League.

The striker – who earns £100,000 a week – was left out of the club’s Premier League and Europa League squads, meaning he cannot even play for Spurs in an emergency until after the January transfer window.

Spurs tried to offload the former Arsenal and Man City striker by giving him a big pay-off to join West Ham or Aston Villa, but the player failed to take Tottenham’s incentive and the Hammers even admitted that the player was “too expensive”.

That has left Spurs with no choice but to take the financial hit on the chin, with the Togo striker set to earn £5million in wages between now and next summer when his contract expires – unless the club can offload him in January, or agree a settlement with him now.

 

AND THE REST

  • Joachim Low has mocked the Premier League for ‘killing the national team’ by making too many big-money continental signings (various)
  • Saido Berahino has further angered West Brom fans by publishing a photo of himself on a plane after being given time off by the club (various)
  • Jermain Defoe thinks Sunderland’s eight new signings can help the club climb the table (Daily Mirror)
  • Eliaquim Mangala has warned Manchester United new boy Anthony Martial that he’ll find it tough to adjust to the Premier League (Daily Express)
  • A poll of West Brom fans has shown that 78% want Saido Berahino to be left to rot in the reserves following his social media attack on chairman Jeremy Peace (Daily Express)
  • Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone’s agent has hit out at Louis van Gaal for holding back young talent at Old Trafford (The Sun)
  • Anthony Martial’s transfer fee will rise by £7m as soon as he scores his first 25 goals for Manchester United (The Sun)