Saints agree £3m Phillips fee

Phillips has been linked with a number of clubs

Sunderland have accepted a bid of £3m from Southampton for striker Kevin Phillips, although there is still work to be done in agreeing personal terms.

Saints boss Gordon Strachan told the BBC Sport website: "There has been a bid for Kevin Phillips and that's all we can say.

"The chairman looks after the finances and the club is run in a certain way.

"We can only sign players who come within the wage structure. Any player who comes in has to fit into that structure."

England international Phillips revealed at the end of last season that he intended to leave the Stadium of Light following last season's relegation from the Premiership.

Southampton just got £7m from Wayne Bridge - we'll take some of that Phil Smith Kevin Phillips' agent

A number of Premiership clubs, including Tottenham and Scottish champions Rangers have been in the frame.

But Phillips' agent told BBC Five Live on Tuesday that the striker will not be rushed into signing for Southampton.

"It will be looked at over the next two or three days - it won't be rushed. There will be other interested parties," said Phil Smith on Tuesday.

"We'll try to meet with Gordon Strachan and take it from there."

Smith was quick to point out that his man would not come to Southampton with low wage demands.

"The first prerequisite is that there is an agreement between the clubs but I won't pretend the contract situation isn't difficult," he said.

"His present contract with Sunderland was negotiated at a time when football was much more buoyant financially.

"There's still plenty of money in the game but let's not kid ourselves - clubs use it as a negotiating tactic.

"They've [Southampton] just got £7m from Wayne Bridge which they weren't expecting - we'll take some of that thank you."

McCarthy set to lose Phillips

Phillips joined Sunderland from Watford for £325,000 in June 1997 and boasts an impressive return of 115 goals from 209 league games.

But last season saw him score just six times as Sunderland struggled for goals and were relegated from the Premiership.

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