By Chris O'Brien
December 30 2004

Premiership strugglers Southampton have been linked with a move for out-of-form Bluebirds winger Jobi McAnuff. The south coast club will be bringing a handful of new players to the St.Mary's during the New Year transfer window to try and avoid relegation to the Championship.

Whispers amongst supporters are suggesting that struggling Premiership side are interested in swooping for Cardiff City wing Jobi McAnuff during the January transfer window. The Saints look set to sell off star forward James Beattie and use the funds to purchase 4 or 5 new players as Harry Redknapp looks to keep the south coast side in England's top flight.

City signed McAnuff from West Ham United early in the season after the former Wimbledon midfielder failed to get the first-team opportunities he had been hoping for at Upton Park. His Bluebirds career got off to a flying start with a string of impressive performances, but in recent weeks he has disappointed and found himself dropped for the recent trip to Sheffield United.

There is little doubt McAnuff is a talented player, but he strugglers with consistency and when the going gets tough he fades out of games. However, when the whole team play well McAnuff tends to shine and his best performance for the club was during the 4-1 victory against his former club the Hammers. I have my doubts whether he could maintain the kind of form needed in the Premiership, but on his day the Jamaican international can cause problems for any side.

Redknapp is likely to get a fee of about £6million for his English international Beattie, and will spend the money on up to 5 new players. Whether this is purely speculation or not remains to be seen, but financially strapped Cardiff would be looking for a bid of about £400,000 for 23-year-old McAnuff.