Beattie bids blasted

Last updated : 26 July 2004 By The Editor

Beattie is currently linked with a move to London to join either Charlton or Tottenham. Alan Curbishley is only returning from the club's tour of China and, with his transfer kitty largely untouched, will be looking to strengthen the squad.

Reports suggest that Charlton have enquired concerning Beattie, with an offer of £6 million. But Saints have rejected any though of selling their striker, at least for that kind of price.

Chairman Rupert Lowe said: "We don't want to sell Beattie and we are a bigger club than Charlton so it would not make any sense.

"I think Beattie's agent has been busy but he is a Southampton player and we want it to stay that way. He has done well for us and and we have done well for him."

Another contender for Beattie's signature are Spurs, keen to lift themselves out of the mire by bringing in some fresh faces. Beattie is supposedly on the shopping list of former French coach Santini. It's an easy story for the hacks, with Spurs being close at hand, with a new manager and Beattie's agent wanting to get his client a move.

However, it would only make sense for Beattie to move if it meant that he had a chance of getting back into the England set up. Ignoring the fact that Eriksson doesn't rate him, Beattie on good scoring form would be impossible to ignore if he was playing for a big club. Charlton are about the same level as us, if not quite as secure and Spurs are still deluding themselves.