MANCHESTER City boss Stuart Pearce believes Gareth Bale is only worth £4m.

Ahead of Sunday's FA Cup tie against Saints, Pearce feels the Saints star's £10million valuation is a bit steep despite the teenager's obvious promise.

''You are paying £4million in terms of player value and £6million for potential,'' said Pearce.

''You have to pay a lot of money for potential these days, in my opinion, too much.

''Gareth has clearly caught the eye. We have watched him, as have most Premiership clubs. He has the potential to go on and become a very good player.

''What you are doing is buying someone who, if he fulfils his potential, will look like a bargain in five years' time".

Pearce, meanwhile, is closing in on a striking reinforcement - though he won't have any new players available to face Saints.

The Blues have been badly let down in the forward department this term, with their four-pronged strikeforce of Georgios Samaras, Bernardo Corradi, Darius Vassell and Paul Dickov all struggling to make any meaningful impact in the scoring stakes.

Between them, the quartet have mustered just SEVEN Premiership goals this term.

Pearce knows the situation must change if City are to push for a UEFA Cup spot over the remaining weeks of the campaign.

Pearce has been heavily linked with out-of-favour Tottenham front-man Mido, as well as Chesterfield starlet Caleb Folan But the latter joined Wigan for £500,000 this afternoon.