Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish battling Aston Villa for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish will ask the club's board to sanction a January move for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, who earns £65,000 a week at White Hart Lane.[LNB] McLeish is aiming to beat city rivals Aston Villa to the signing of Keane, and will hope that Villa boss Gerard Houllier becomes preoccupied with his own battle not to lose Ashley Young during the transfer window. [LNB]Houllier said yesterday he is prepared to run down Young's contract and lose him for nothing rather than sell the England winger next month.[LNB] Brum deal: Birmingham and Villa are in the hunt for Robbie Keane[LNB] McLeish is keen to add another striker to his ranks and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp wants to offload Keane and raise funds to upgrade his own squad.[LNB] West Ham have al ready enquired but have been told by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy that they will have to meet the Ireland forward's wages, pay a £1million survival bonus and commit to a £6m transfer at the end of the season.[LNB] Those terms are unacceptable to Hammers owner David Sullivan and although McLeish is likely to be met with the same initial response, it is clear he wants further support.[LNB] He said: 'I'm going to be working with the board to bring enhancement to the forward area. That's a priority.[LNB] 'We want to enhance our assault on the second half of the season. I have a fast and athletic forward in Cameron Jerome and I have a tall forward with Nikola Zigic. I'm now looking for someone with a bit of guile and craft and I've identified that type of player.'[LNB] Waiting game: Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Young[LNB] Houllier, meanwhile, is clearly more concerned at present with settling down Young, who rejected a contract offer during the summer. With 18 months remaining on his current deal, pressure is mounting either to sell and realise some muchneeded cash, or to clarify the situation once and for all.[LNB] With Villa owner Randy Lerner's full support, it seems that Houllier will simply make the most of having the winger before he leaves on a Bosman free transfer in the summer of 2012.[LNB] The former Liverpool manager did not rule out Young signing a fresh deal but it is likely the player will resist that after moves to make him the highest-paid player in the club's history came to nothing five months ago.[LNB] The former Watford player was offered a £10,000-a-week pay rise and had an escape clause inserted in his new agreement.[LNB] But that was insufficient to draw him to the negotiating table.[LNB] Houllier said: 'The club's will is to keep Ashley. He has told us very clearly that he wants to wait until the end of the season before talking.[LNB] 'It would be brave to hang on to him. But I'm brave and I think Mr Lerner is, too. Obviously, if someone came in with crazy money it is difficult to stop them.' [LNB] Andy Townsend's boot room: Clash of the day - Everton v BirminghamWe must start to beat more weaker teams or risk finishing outside top four, warns Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Robbie Keane, Daniel Levy, Harry Redknapp, Ashley Young, Alex McLeish, Gerard Houllier, David Sullivan Places: Birmingham, Liverpool, United Kingdom, Ireland
