Beasley - fit as a fiddle and ready to go

The speedy left winger, who could still be at St Mary's in time for the new campaign, showed his loyalty to club side Chicago Fire by turning out for them on the same day as playing for the USA national team.

Beasley played the full 90 minutes for the USA as they drew 1-1 with Poland in Chicago on Sunday night.

He then asked to be included in the starting line-up for the Fire's Major League Soccer game against New England Revolution which took place on the same pitch immediately after the US match!

Fire coach Dave Sarachan refused to sanction the request - but still brought him on with 30 minutes left to help secure a 1-1 draw.

"I heard DaMarcus tell the other players he wanted to play 180 minutes," said Sarachan.

"We decided to play it by ear, and he said he wanted to play for us.

"You don't have to talk DaMarcus into playing ever. He's always ready to go."

Saints yesterday confirmed they are still in negotiations to try and secure the services of Beasley for the forthcoming season.

A deal for the 22-year-old stalled after Major League Soccer, who own the registrations of every player in America, turned down Saints' initial offer.

The club were not prepared to go any higher, even though PSV Eindhoven are also in the market for him and have had a slightly higher offer than Saints rejected as well.

Now it is thought Saints may up their bid slightly to try and get Beasley, who is applying pressure on the MLS to let him come to St Mary's.

Ideally, Saints would like to be able to include Beasley in their party for the tour of Sweden which leaves a week today so he can play a part in the full pre-season fixture list.

Beasley said: "Sometimes (the transfer talks) weigh on you but I'm a grown man. I know how to handle it.

"I've learned not to get too high over something that might not happen.

"It's not up to me.

"MLS holds everything in their hands, and this is where my heart and soul is right now."

The Daily Echo has been contacted by Southampton-born Saints fan Pat Welch, who now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, in America.

He is calling on Saints to do everything they can to beat off competition from PSV and sign Beasley.

Welch said: "I grew up watching the wondrous talents of Terry Paine, Martin Chivers, Ron Davies, George O'Brien - the list could go on and on.

"Having been exposed to such talent at a young age, how could one not be a fan of the team for life?

"I haven't lived in Southampton since 1967 but it is great city and the team gets into one's blood.

"There is truly something magical about those red and white stripes.

"The Premiership is quite popular here and many games are shown live on TV.

I watch several MLS games a week. The MLS, of course, is not the Premiership or anything close to it but it is a good level of football to watch.

"It is essentially a developmental league for American players sprinkled with a few foreign players.

"But it is doing its job of bringing along players like Beasley, and others like Landon Donovan who I think is the more polished of the two players.

"But Saints would be getting not only a good player but a quality young man if they finally do what needs to be done to get him.

"I don't know what Saints offered for him but I have never heard of the league turning down a reasonable offer.

"Manchester United got Tim Howard last year for a little more than a million dollars.

"If you do the conversion you'll see that figure would easy fit the Saints budget.

"Fulham didn't have to break the bank to get Brian McBride and Beasley is a much better prospect than him.

"I just think that if more Saints fans were aware of the talent that Beasley is they could put more pressure on the club to get this thing done once and for all.

"I know very little about Peter Crouch, I hope he is a great success.

"But having read his stats, though, if he is worth £2m then DaMarcus is worth a little more than appears to have been offered.

"This young man needs to come to England because he has nothing more to prove here."