Villa Chairman Confirms Beattie Bid

Saints boss Harry Redknapp, though reluctant to sell the England international, is resigned to losing Beattie who will be sold to raise funds for the new Saints boss to sign up to four new players in the transfer window which opened today.

Villa chairman Doug Ellis has confirmed that his club have made an estimated £6million bid for Beattie which Everton are believed to have matched.

"It's now up to the club to give us the authority to meet the boy and draw up a contract if he wishes to come," Ellis told BBC Five Live.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness was also rumoured to be interested in signing Beattie but a move to St James' Park now looks unlikely following the Magpies signing of Glasgow Rangers defender Jean-Alain Boumsong for £8million.