But sources in the north-east suggest Newcastle have entered the race for Beattie as well – with former Saints manager Graeme Souness able to offer England Under-21 stars Titus Bramble and Shola Ameobi in exchange.

This is Redknapp’s plan, fielding a new-look Southampton line-up to pull them out of trouble after yesterday’s goalless draw with Charlton stretched their dismal record to 17 matches containing just one win.

They visit Liverpool tomorrow and Manchester City on Saturday.

And although England striker Beattie looked woefully out of touch in his return from a calf injury and broken toe, his record represents top value among home-grown goalscorers.

He has been the top English scorer in the last few seasons when Thierry Henry of Arsenal and Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistelrooy have ruled the Premiership roost.

Redknapp said: “We would like to keep him but we need to inject other players with confidence.

“We need to get players in who can use the ball with confidence and play without fear under pressure.

“It was another struggle against Charlton and it was a poor performance, a poor game to be fair.”

Redknapp, who has now see his new club play three, drawing two and losing once, since switching from neighbours Portsmouth, was so upset by this latest showing he at first declined to attend the press conference after the game, but he was later open with a BBC TV interviewer.

And assistant Jim Smith, installed this week from Portsmouth to make it three ex-Pompey coaches in the Saints camp following the arrival of Kevin Bond, believes Redknapp will sign up to five players in the forthcoming transfer window.

“You have to talk to the chairman about possibly selling somebody to get the ammunition to bring in three, four, five quality players,” said Smith.

“But we are here to get the club out of the mire, and that might be an avenue we have to reluctantly go down.”

Redknapp said last week the present Southampton side was not good enough to get out of the Coca-Cola Championship but will fight to hang on to Finland goalkeeper Antti Niemi, whom he describes as “priceless”, and fielded midfielder Matt Oakley against Charlton for his first game since knee surgery 15 months ago.

It was only thanks to Charlton’s wayward finishing that Saints avoided being sunk in the opening 20 minutes.

Niemi bravely kept out Jerome Thomas one-on-one before Dennis Rommedahl’s shot was deflected wide and then Shaun Bartlett put an unchallenged header on the crossbar.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley saw the end of his team’s three-match winning run but said: “Everyone looked comfortable out there for us and although we’ve got Everton and Arsenal among the next three games it is either results or performances that gives us confidence.

“I think it is results and Southampton obviously need one to start the run they need.”