Southampton defender Chris Baird could be on the verge of a move to Fulham after handing in a transfer request at St Mary's.

The 25-year-old was the subject of a bid - believed to be £2.5million - from Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez last week which was dismissed as "derisory" by Saints.

A statement on Southampton's official website read: "We received a transfer request from Chris Baird late yesterday. There is no further comment at this stage."

But Saints will be under pressure to sell having missed out on promotion via the play-offs and losing the Premiership parachute payments with a third season outside the top flight looming.

The south coast club, who last month sold Gareth Bale to Tottenham for an initial fee of £5million, remain in financial limbo with a proposed takeover from American tycoon Paul Allen yet to materialise.