VILLA'S BID CONFIRMED BY SAINTS

Chairman Rupert Lowe said: "Aston Villa made a bid last Friday, which was immediately rejected by the club."

But it is understood that Villa are weighing up a second bid for Beattie, with Saints believed to value the player at nearer £8m.

Beattie's agent this morning admitted there ARE discussions taking place regarding the star striker's future at Saints.

David O'Leary is keen to add to his firepower just days ahead of the big Premiership curtain-raiser - ironically against Saints at Villa Park.

Speculation has raged all summer regarding the future of 26-year-old Beattie, with Newcastle, Charlton, Tottenham, Everton and Rangers all having been linked with him.

Beattie, the club's top scorer for the past two seasons, has not so far issued a definitive statement this summer committing his future to Saints.

Phil Smith, a Beattie representative, said: "There is nothing to say at the moment. It is all being discussed in private."

Asked about the ongoing Villa link, a spokesman for Saints this mor- ning would only say: "We do not

Villa have also refused to comment but money could be a stumbling block. A source close to Villa Park said chairman Doug Ellis could be reluctant to go much beyond £6m.

Saints are keen to keep Beattie and would almost certainly insist on the player handing in a transfer request - as Wayne Bridge did last summer - before agreeing to sell him.

Beattie has only two years left to run on his contract, meaning the time is fast approaching for him to commit his long-term future to Saints or perhaps be sold while he could still command a high fee.

Earlier in the summer, Peter Crouch left Villa to join Saints for £2m, while Colombian Juan Pablo Angel, the top scorer last season with 23 goals, is struggling for fitness after a knee operation. But O'Leary does also have Darius Vassell, on-loan Chelsea striker Carlton Cole, Marcus Allback and youngster Luke Moore as striking options.