THE agent representing Ipswich Town striker Darren Bent could advise the player NOT to move to St Mary's unless he is confident of playing regular first-team football.

Saints have been linked with a £3m move for 19-year-old Bent, pictured, and 18-year-old Portman Road colleague Matt Richards, who is a promising left-back.

Saints haven't confirmed or denied the speculation, but Bent's agent, Jonathan Barnett, insists the forward, who scored 19 goals in the First Division last season, needs regular first-team football in 2003/04.

Newcastle have also been linked with the player, who is the England Under-21 squad alongside Saints midfielder David Prutton for tonight's friendly with Serbia and Montenegro at Hull.

Barnett has said: "I will tell Darren that joining Newcastle would not be good for him or his career at this moment in time.

"Look at the number of strikers they have up there. Darren will get a game now and again, but how is that going to benefit him?

"He needs to be playing first team football next season."

That might not be the case at St Mary's next season if James Beattie, Brett Ormerod, Marian Pahars and Agustin Delgado are all fit come August.

But with injury doubts continuing to hang over the latter pair - Pahars, meanwhile, was today linked in a tabloid with an £800,000 switch to Wolves - Saints boss Gordon Strachan knows a striker must be at the top of his summer shopping list.

Saints could face competition for Bent, who has also attracted attention from Everton and Charlton.

Saints, meanwhile, have denied tabloid speculation they are interested in making a swoop for Brentford 'keeper Paul Smith should Paul Jones leave St Mary's this summer.

Chairman Rupert Lowe has admitted they had watched Swedish midfielder Christoffer Andersson, who the Daily Echo mentioned was a possible Saints target on Friday, but insisted no bid will be made.

Saints have also denied reports that Valencia have enquired about midfielder Anders Svensson.