Birmingham City in for Bobo Balde
Bolton Wanderers have also been sniffing around the man-mountain of a stopper, who joined Celtic in 2001 and has won five SPL titles, the Scottish Cup three times and the Scottish League Cup twice.
Blues latest proposal makes sense as McLeish could assess Balde's fitness and hunger at close quarters before committing to a contract.
There would be no transfer fee involved too as Balde's contract is due to expire next month.
McLeish has admitted that he requires two if not three new centre-halves for Blues forthcoming Premier League campaign.
Liam Ridgewell is recovering from a broken leg and Radhi Jaidi has been released.
At present, Martin Taylor remains as the only senior recognised centre-half , while rookie Krystian Pearce is likely to be loaned out again next season.
At the start of last season, McLeish felt that Balde still had the speed and mobility to dominate at Championship level.
He checked him out in Celtic's pre-season friendly against Cardiff City.
McLeish is sure to have Balde watched in two summer World Cup qualifiers for Guinea, against Ivory Coast (June 7) and Burkino Faso (June 21).
McLeish was due in Brussels tonight to watch another target, Standard Liege's American defender Oguchi Onyewu, against Anderlecht in the first leg of the Belgium title decider.
McLeish said: "We extended an invite to Balde to train with us and that's as far as it has gone.
"We don't know if that will happen, there is a lot of water to go under the bridge. He has got internationals in the summer and I'm pursuing legitimate targets.
"Balde looks like he will be a free agent and I have to look at any opportunity I can get."
