Birmingham City Exclusive: We need defenders urgently says Alex McLeish

May 29 2009 By Colin Tattum - our man at the Blues

ALEX McLeish today outlined the priority areas for Blues citing the centre of defence as being in urgent need of attention.

McLeish also admitted that his aim next season was to ensure Blues remained a Premier League club, as he put it ‘to finish in the top 17’.

Oguchi Onyewu, Matt Mills, Roger Johnson are among those under consideration for the rearguard, plus Bobo Balde.

McLeish warned again, however, that high asking prices made recruitment that much harder.

“I feel we need centre-backs, at least two,” he said.

“Radhi Jaidi has now gone, Liam Ridgewell is out injured for the best part of six to nine months from here on in.

“We as well need someone in midfield who can take the ball. We are hoping to sign Lee Bowyer also, we are still waiting on answers from him.

“So that would be two midfielders.

“And then there’s a determination to get players in for the forward areas, those who can make a difference.

“Djimi Traore is someone we would want to add to the squad as well, and there’s a willingness there from him.

“As I said a wee while ago, we probably need 10 players.

“Dave Sullivan said he thought we needed five; maybe somewhere in between is accurate.