SAINTS striker James Beattie has again been linked with a move to Newcastle.

The speculation regarding Beattie's switch to the north-east has been almost constant for more than 12 months.

Reports yesterday stated that Newcastle were preparing to bid £8m for the England striker.

But sources close to St James' Park insist Sir Bobby Robson has not got that much to spend on just one player.

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe has always stated that he has had no contact with Newcastle regarding a bid for Beattie.

Lowe's most recent denial was on the Saints website last Monday.

But Lowe has always maintained that he won't try to keep anyone at the club who does not want to be there - and Beattie has always publicly admitted he is happy at St Mary's.

Newcastle were recently linked with Marseille's Egyptian striker Mido.

But the 21-year-old's move to the Toon depends on whether United's Frenchman, Laurent Robert, goes in the opposite direction.

And United will only let Robert return to France if they sign Leeds' exciting young left-sided striker James Milner.

As far as Mido and Robert are concerned, the plan would be for the pair to swap clubs on loan for a year, with a view to permanent transfers after that.

Robert appears destined to eventually go to Marseille after his agent Pape Diouf took over as general manager of the club around the time they knocked United out of the UEFA Cup last month.

Mido cost Marseille £7m when he joined them from Ajax last year - the same figure United were initially quoted for Milner by Leeds.

But Mido has disappointed during his time in France and is now worth way below that amount in today's transfer market.

If United do land Mido, it would leave them with Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Shola Ameobi and the young Egyptian - and, according to reports in Newcastle, end their interest in Beattie - at least for the time being.