Beattie is too dear for Curbs

Alan Curbishley today ruled out a renewed bid for James Beattie in next month's transfer window.

Charlton had a £4million offer for the Southampton striker turned down last August and, with just £3m to spend next month, have accepted that Beattie is out of their price range.

Curbishley will instead concentrate on recruiting from the lower leagues, with Nottingham Forest defender Michael Dawson and Ipswich striker Darren Bent his primary targets, though Bent may also prove too expensive.

Curbishley said: "We've got some money to spend, but I won't be spending it for the sake of it and we need to get the right players.

"We haven't got James Beattie money - he's way out of our reach.

"We want to do something as it'll only take one injury and we're really struggling.

"I don't know how easy it will be to bring people in and we'll have to wait and see. We will have to go shopping in the places where we can do business."

Charlton moved up to seventh in the Premiership last night courtesy of 2-1 win over Fulham, with this year's January signing, Jerome Thomas, catching the eye with a man-of-the-match performance, scoring the first goal.