Birmingham still hoping to sign £5 million defender

Jun 16 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

Birmingham City are still in the hunt for Cardiff City’s Roger Johnson, despite the £3.5 million arrival of Scott Dann.

A deal, worth a potential £5 milllion, remains on the table with the Bluebirds.

It was thought in some quarters following Dann’s signing from Coventry City that Blues’ interest in Johnson had ended.

That’s not the case as Blues plan to land Johnson or Standard Liege’s Oguchi Onyewu, who is soon to be out of contract, to join Dann in a new-look backline.

Also, Blues are continuing to process a deal for Ecuador international Geovanny Espinoza, of Barcelona Sporting Club.

Johnson, it is understood, is keen to move to St Andrew’s and Blues have far from given up hope that business can be concluded with Cardiff.

The £5 million fee is acceptable to Cardiff, but not the method of payment.

Blues have made two bids, the latter £4 million rising to £5 million, with the money believed to be staggered in £1 million hits over a period of years and dependent on Premier League status.

Cardiff want the £5 million up front, which Blues are reluctant to shell out in such a manner and isn’t normal practice.

For example, when they sold Jermaine Pennant (to Liverpool for £6.7 million) and Matthew Upson (West Ham United £6 million) they accepted three payments over two-year periods, plus add-ons. A three-year contract has been mooted for free transfer Onyewu and talks are on-going with his agent.