Birmingham City boss wants another midfielder after Ferguson signing

Jul 16 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

Blues would probably have to pay about £5 million to stand any chance of landing him. Steve Bruce, who tried to get the Brummie for Wigan Athletic in January, is also interested and his new club Sunderland have greater financial muscle.

Blues have retained an interest in a Spanish midfielder, thought to be in his mid-20s, but Ferguson’s impending arrival has put that potential transfer on the back-burner. The target in question is more a playmaker type too.

McLeish stated after the glory of Championship promotion that Blues needed at least ten players and Ferguson would take the number of new additions up to eight (whether Stephen Carr and Lee Bowyer, who were both part of the side last season, should be counted among the ‘new’ signings is unclear).

McLeish has another option of Keith Fahey in midfield and potentially Jordon Mutch, who has returned to full training after his awful problems with foot fractures last season.

Ferguson, after guiding Rangers to the SPL title and Scottish Cup amid the backdrop of controversy due to the Scotland boozegate rumpus, knew his days were numbered.

And it was communicated to McLeish virtually since the last ball had been kicked in May that he would love to link up with him again and have another crack at the Premier League.

Indeed, Ferguson, who was at Blackburn Rovers from August 2003-January 2005, after being sold by then-Rangers boss McLeish for £7.5 million, was even quite prepared to prove himself worthy of signing by effectively going on trial during Blues’ pre-season tour of Austria.

But it was hardly likely to come to that as hard-up Rangers need the fee and a hefty saving on the wage bill.

Meanwhile, suggestions that Garry O’Connor could be heading for Crystal Palace are speculative.

Manager Neil Warnock plans to keep tabs on O’Connor and should he not get a look-in next season request a loan.

But the idea would receive short shrift from both McLeish and O’Connor.

The striker remains part of McLeish’s plans and after the sparkling way he began the Championship season before being cut down by groin injuries, he still has plenty to offer.

While he would not guarantee any player an automatic place, McLeish is confident O’Connor could be an asset in the top flight, especially as he is at times likely to select different formations, depending on the opposition and occasion.