Defender set to sign for Birmingham City

May 28 2009 By Andy Walker

“The discussions between my agent and the club are still going on and we are looking for the right deal,” said Traore.

“Yes I’m keen to sign, I’ve had a few offers but my main priority is just Birmingham.

‘‘Of course, I enjoyed playing for the club last season and I said to my agent to do everything he can to make sure that I join Birmingham.

“Hopefully something will be completed over the next few weeks.”

Discussions may be stalling over the former Liverpool player’s wage demands as he was believed to be earning in the region of £20,000-a-week at Portsmouth.

Having fallen out of favour at Pompey, Traore’s emergency loan move to St Andrew’s initially looked set to be a disaster.

The 2005 Champions League winner tore his hamstring minutes into his first reserve appearance at Wast Hills shortly after his switch and he looked destined to play no part in Blues’ promotion push.

If that had remained the case then Traore would have only been remembered for Karren Brady’s revelation in her national newspaper column that Blues were paying Pompey just £100-a-week for his services if he wasn’t in the first team.

However, having been thrown on for the last five minutes of the win at Watford due to Franck Queudrue’s injury, Traore was called upon to start the last two games against Preston and Reading.

McLeish is eager to sign Traore as he currently just has broken knee-cap victim David Murphy and Queudrue to cover the left side of defence.