JAMES BEATTIE’S agent has confirmed Charlton’s interest in the England international by disclosing that Southampton have rejected a £6m offer for the striker.

Phil Smith said: “Charlton have had one £6 million offer turned down by Southampton. On top of that, there is interest from Tottenham. James Beattie is a man in a hurry. He is not in the England side at the moment and wants to be."

After Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Bolton, Charlton manager Alan Curbishley refused to discuss Beattie or the club’s other transfer targets. All he would say was: “Hopefully something will happen this week.”

Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe denied weekend rumours that 26-year-old Beattie had handed in a transfer request amid reports that he does not see eye to eye with new manager Paul Sturrock.

Beattie missed Saints’ 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday with a thigh injury and Sturrock admitted afterwards: “No club wants to lose its best players and I would like to think he will remain our main striker. We missed him today.”

Mr Lowe reiterated his earlier stance over the Beattie issue when he said: “We don’t want to sell him and we are a bigger club than Charlton, so it would not make sense. But I know Beattie’s agent has been busy.”

Meanwhile, Curbishley, who ran another form check on long-time transfer target Andy Reid of Nottingham Forest in midweek, saw his financial muscle strengthened when Charlton reached a private settlement with Chelsea over the loan transfer of Carlton Cole. The seven-figure settlement is thought to be in the region of £1.5m.

The striker, who scored five times in nine starts for the Addicks last season, was expected to remain at The Valley for a second season under the terms of Scott Parker’s £10m transfer to Chelsea.

But he abruptly returned to Stamford Bridge at the end of last season before Chelsea agreed a year-long loan to Aston Villa, for whom he scored on his debut on Saturday.

Charlton chief executive Peter Varney said: “Following amicable discussions with Chelsea, we have withdrawn our complaint to the Premier League regarding the circumstances surrounding the loan transfer of Carlton Cole to Charlton and associated issues.

"Chelsea have agreed a settlement with us, which will not be disclosed, but is acceptable to both parties. We now consider the matter closed."

Charlton could be without skipper Matt Holland for Saturday’s opening home game in the Premier League against Portsmouth after the midfielder suffered an ankle injury in the 12th minute at Bolton on Saturday.