SAINTS remain hopeful they can beat off a number of other Premiership clubs to sign Oxford United starlet Sean Rudd.

The 15-year-old centre half spent a short trial spell with Saints a few months ago, and the club were impressed.

But Oxford have confirmed that Manchester City have joined the race to sign Rudd, with Everton and Blackburn also showing interest.

Saints spent over £100,000 on Under-19 academy play-off final star Dexter Blackstock when they signed the teenage striker from Oxford last summer.

And the Third Division club want a decent fee for Rudd as well.

Saints academy director Huw Jennings said: "At the moment our valuation of the player does not meet with Oxford's.

"But I remain hopeful he will join us during the summer."

Rudd, from Abingdon, has been with Oxford since he was 12 and the U's are resigned to losing him.

"The trial at Southampton went really well," he said.

"I played in a game against Birmingham City and trained with the first team, so was marking players like James Beattie and Kevin Phillips.

"It was a fantastic experience. It's pretty settled that I'm going there, just about everything's been agreed and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I've read that Southampton have put an offer in for £50,000 but that was turned down.

"We'll have to see if they can agree on an amount or if it goes to a tribunal."

Rudd has already played for United's under-19s and their reserves.

After the reserve team home match against Cheltenham in February, the then manager Ian Atkins said of Rudd: "He could go on to be a very good player. He's definitely one to watch."

Taylor added: "We don't want the lad to go and we did start negotiations with him.

"Sean's a very good young player and had a trial with England.

"He has played for our under-19s and our reserves.

"If we look at all our age groups, we've got players who are very talented and they know that, at Oxford, they will get an early opportunity to prove themselves.

"He might go all of a sudden from a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a very big pond, but if that's what he wants we won't stand in his way."

Blackstock has just finished an exceptional first year at Saints.

His performances for the reserves and the Under-19 side earnt him a place on the bench for the last two Premiership matches of the season.

Jennings has confirmed that Nationwide clubs have enquired to take him on loan - Oxford one of them.

But he added that it might be season 2005/06 before Saints allow the youngster out on loan, if they allow him at all.