Beattie set to join Everton in record £6m deal
Everton announced last night they are poised to pay a club record £6m (€8.5m) for the England international and the Merseysiders hope to complete the move following a medical today.
Aston Villa had also been interested in signing Beattie but appear to have lost the striker to their Premiership rivals.
The club’s official website, www.evertonfc.com, reported: “James Beattie is poised to become Everton’s record signing after agreeing personal terms on a move to Goodison Park.
“The 26-year old has decided that his future lies on Merseyside and he looks set to put pen-to-paper within the next couple of days.”
Beattie joined Saints from Blackburn in 1998, scoring 76 goals in 233 appearances and earning England recognition.
Southampton boss Harry Redknapp had indicated his willingness to offload Beattie to provide finance for a January recruitment drive.
That alerted both Everton and Villa, who are both keen to strengthen small squads during the transfer window.
Former Everton stalwart Graeme Sharp welcomed the move but warned Kevin Campbell and Duncan Ferguson they could be shipped out to make room for the new signing.
He said: “We’ve been crying out for a decent forward but a player of the class of James Beattie, you’ve got to be interested.
“What you’re getting is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League. I think James Beattie will be a good signing for Everton.”
He added: “I think their (Campbell’s and Ferguson’s) contracts are up at the end of the year and David (Moyes) has got big decisions to make.”
Meanwhile, Everton boss David Moyes was disappointed with his side’s performance against Spurs on Saturday and believed strikers Fredi Kanoute and Keane gave Spurs the edge.
Moyes said: “I thought we looked maybe the more liable to get an equaliser at that period but we were always under pressure from Tottenham, their forwards were hard work today for us.
“I thought their forwards were the biggest difference in the game,” added Moyes, who was without injured keeper Nigel Martyn and centre-back Alan Stubbs.
“We brought in good players, Joseph Yobo is a terrific player as is Richard Wright, so it shouldn’t have been as big a problem as it was today.
“I don’t know how well Tottenham are playing but I know that wasn’t as good as we can play, that’s for sure.
“We’re sore and we know we haven’t done as well as we should have done, but we’re still lying healthy and we’ll plough on and try to get some more points.”
Everton retained fourth spot despite the defeat, and could now bolster their squad further in the January transfer window.
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