Southampton are reported to be ready to make a £3 million bid for Town youngsters Darren Bent and Matt Richards. Blues' chairman David Sheepshanks recently admitted that he was aware of the Saints interest in Richards.

The 18-year-old left-back is seen as an ideal replacement for Wayne Bridge should be move on over the summer.

Bent has been linked with a number of clubs, perhaps most significantly Newcastle, but the Blues are keen to keep their youngsters if at all possible.

The club would prefer to lose more established players who are on larger wages, however if no bids come in then they may be forced to listen to offers for the likes of Bent and Richards.

Elsewhere, reports in Bournemouth claim their skipper Carl Fletcher has decided against a possible move to Town and has signed a new deal at Dean Court. The central defender was one of the stars of the Cherries' Second Division play-off win.

Meanwhile the rumour amongst Bristol Rovers supporters is that Town are interested in their 21-year-old centre-half Anwar Uddin. The Londoner was previously with West Ham and Sheffield Wednesday but failed to make a senior start until his switch to the Gasheads.

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