PAUL STURROCK has still not given up the battle to keep James Beattie.

Although the 26-year-old is yet to hand in a written transfer request, Beattie has verbally indicated that he wants to leave, with Aston Villa understood to be his preferred destination.

Chants of 'Beattie for Villa' rang out around Villa Park on Saturday and David O'Leary stoked up the pressure further by claiming Beattie wants to join his club.

But he admitted they were NOT prepared to go beyond the £6m fee which has already been turned down by Saints.

"We haven't done a bluff, we have offered Southampton £6m," said the Villa boss.

"They are quite entitled to want more, but if they want more they will be getting it off someone else. But would I love to have him? Yes.

"I don't know when it could be resolved. I don't play a part in that. All I know is that I've got a player that would like to come here."

Beattie was absent from Saints' limp 2-0 defeat at Villa with a thigh injury and his presence was clearly missed.

Sturrock said: "I'm still very hopeful. You don't want to lose your key player that has done very well for you.

"At the end of the day, it's a situation that will be cleared up come the deadline and I would like to think that James Beattie will be my main striker.

"We missed his presence in both boxes. You can't afford to lose those types of players.

"So far Villa have been turned down, so I don't expect anything to change from that.

"He's a Southampton player and as far as I'm concerned he will still be a Southampton player."

If the two clubs cannot agree on a fee for Beattie, O'Leary says he will not be chasing any other player.

"You take Beattie out, there's no-one else to get."

Other clubs interested in Beattie are Tottenham and Charlton.

A deal to take the player to White Hart Lane for £4m plus Freddie Kanoute could be acceptable to Saints, who would want an immediate replacement. But maintaining the Frenchman's £30,000 a week wage at Tottenham looks like a massive stumbling block.