SAINTS have refused to deny reports linking them with a move for Marseilles' Egyptian striker Mido.

The player's agent, Cristophe Henrotay, was quoted over the weekend as saying Newcastle and Saints were both interested in bringing the player to England.

And today manager Paul Sturrock, speaking from Saints' pre-season training camp in Austria, said: "We do not comment on speculation as that only gives it credence and keeps it going."

However, the club also refused to deny the moves for Mikael Nilsson, Peter Crouch and DaMarcus Beasley - ALL of which were true.

If 6ft 3 in Mido is a target then it will inevitably fuel more speculation on James Beattie's future.

Controversial 21-year-old left-footed attacker Mido DID attract interest from St Mary's three years ago when he was playing in the Belgian League for Ghent.

He then went to Ajax for £3m before joining Marseille for over £6m only last summer on a five-year contract.

But injuries and the superb form of Chelsea target Didier Drogba restricted him to just 19 league starts and seven goals in 2003/04. He also scored two European goals.

However, a Saints source yesterday said: "I'm sure he would be out of our league - he would be on big wages at Marseille.

"This is just agent talk - an agent trying to drum up interest in his player."

Beattie remains the subject of feverish speculation linking him to Newcastle, despite despite Saints chairman Rupert Lowe, Toon chairman Freddie Shepherd and the player's agent, Jon Smith, ALL stating there has been no interest shown in the England forward.

Depending on which national tabloid you read, Shepherd is either exceptionally reluctant to splash out the majority of the club's transfer budget on Beattie OR he is looking to clinch a deal in the next 48 hours.

Mido, whose wife was due to give birth sometime this week, has a reputation as a bit of a troublemaker - he was frozen out by Ajax coach Ronald Koeman for comments made to the media and loaned to Spanish outfit Celta Vigo.

There were also reports of a falling out with Marseille coach Jose Amigo earlier this year.