Antti Niemi's agent has insisted the Saints goalkeeper is not leaving St Mary's - because he is so impressed with Harry Redknapp.

The Finnish number one was reported to be keen to leave for Arsenal during the transfer window because of Saints' lack of ambition.

And speculation has inevitably linked Niemi with Manchester United following Roy Carroll's well-publicised howler on Tuesday.

With James Beattie being sold to Everton for £6m earlier this week, some fans will be fearing for the future of last season's player of the year.

But agent Richard Cody says there is no chance of £4m rated Niemi leaving.

The 32-year-old is contracted to Saints until 2008 after signing a one-year extension in the summer and Cody said: "Antti's only concern is trying to get Southampton out of the relegation zone.

"There is absolutely no way he will be going to Arsenal or anyone else, unless Harry was to come to us and say that is what he needs to get players in.

"I've got a lot of time for Harry and so has Antti, who firmly believes he is the right man to keep Southampton in the Premiership.

"He's spoken about how the players respond to Harry and Jim Smith, and he's also been very impressed with Kevin Bond.

"They all make time to talk to the players and he's very happy working with them and David Coles, who, without a shadow of a doubt, he regards as the best goalkeeping coach he's ever worked with.

"And that says a lot when you con-sider he worked with Alan Hodg-kinson when he was at Rangers."

Redknapp has made it clear that he has no intention of selling Niemi, and now that he has around £4.5m available following the sale of Beattie, he is even less likely to cash in on his most prized asset.

Niemi has made 84 league and cup appearances for Saints since signing for £2m from Hearts two-and-a- half years ago.