SAINTS have once again knocked back rumours linking Newcastle with a move for striker James Beattie.

There has been repeated speculation in the national press that the north-east club will come in with a bid for the 26-year-old.

But a source close to St James' Park yesterday said it was highly unlikely unless Newcastle sold someone from their current squad. "I'm sure they would be interested in a player like Beattie, but I very much doubt they can spend that sort of money on one player," he said.

Manager Paul Sturrock confirmed there had been no bid for Beattie.

He said: "We have not heard anything at all from Newcastle. This has been in the paper so many times that we have nothing more to say on it."

Sturrock has also rejected speculation linking Saints with a £1.5m move for Czech Republic midfielder Vladimir Smicer.

"This is a no goer," he added.

It is thought that Saints' main transfer targets remain wide midfielders Mikael Nilsson from Sweden and American DaMarcus Beasley.