BRADFORD CITY boss Jim Jeffries has confirmed that Saints have made an inquiry over transfer-listed Romanian World Cup star Dan Petrescu.

Saints boss Glenn Hoddle is a known admirer of Petrescu, signing him from Sheffield Wednesday for £2.3million while he was boss at Chelsea, and trying to sign him again during the summer.

At that time, Saints were counted out by Petrescu's wage demands, but it is that same wage packet that has made him available again at Bradford City.

Petrescu has been transfer-listed by Bradford boss Jeffries - along with other high earners Stan Collymore and Benito Carbone - as the Bantams try to cut their wage bill in order to beef up their relegation survival bid.

Petrescu is thought to be earning around £20,000 a week at Valley Parade, and has already said that he will resist any attempts to offload him cheaply by Bradford, who are thought to only want a minimal fee for a player they paid Chelsea £800,000 for.

The 33-year-old Romanian has said that he will see out the remaining two years of his Bradford contract in the reserves, rather than be offloaded, and that he would only consider a move if his wages were matched at another club.

That could explain why Jeffries had heard nothing from Saints today, after confirming they had made contact yesterday, although that was initially denied by Saints.

"I had a tentative inquiry from one other Premiership club and I can confirm that was Southampton. But as yet, there have been no further developments," said Jeffries.

Petrescu was one of the last survivors of Hoddle's reign at Chelsea, before being sold by Gianluca Vialli.

Petrescu's knack of scoring goals from a defensive role is admired by Hoddle, who was on the receiving end as England manager when Petrescu popped up to score Romania's winner in the 1998 World Cup group qualifiying match.