By J Bateman
January 16 2003

Southampton are staying silent on the interest in Derby defender Danny Higgenbottom. Southampton chairman has stayed cool on speculation he has upped his bid for Danny Higgenbottom.

Gordon Strachan is believed to really want the defender to keep his Saints side in the hunt for a surprise European place at the end of the season.

Higgenbottom along with Malcolm Christie are Derby's most sellable assets and if the right bid comes in they will be forced to sell , Southampton have put in a undiclosed amount believed to be around £1m but Derby value the player at £2.5m , and the price might come down considerably due to the Rams money situation.

Rupert Lowe spoke to BBC Online.
--------------------------------
"I can confirm we haven't increased our original bid."

"The way we operate we don't discuss our dealings in public." Lowe also added