Source: Telegraph
Birmingham seal £3.5 million move for Aston Villa defender Craig Gardner
Gardner has completed a £3.5 million switch after passing his medical and agreeing personal terms with the St Andrews club. [LNB]He had found first-team opportunities limited at Villa this season and becomes Alex McLeish's second signing of the current transfer window following former Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel.[LNB] Related ArticlesSpirited Birmingham dispatch EvertonEverton 1 Birmingham City 2Birmingham close on Craig Gardner dealKris Boyd future unclearBirmingham offer £14m for McGeadyTransfer Talk"I'm over the moon especially being at the club I supported as a boy," Gardner said. "I just can't wait to get out there, put the shirt on and do well for the club. I have not slept properly for the last three or four days waiting until the deal to be done. Now it's done it's unbelievable." [LNB]Gardner is not expected to be the last addition to Birmingham's squad this month. McLeish is looking to sign a new striker this week. He will not be rushed, however, into making any rash signings. [LNB]'I think it is important [to perform due diligence] because you can buy a South American and you might not know exactly what you are getting,' said McLeish. 'We've been recommended hundreds, there's a scatter-gun effect with the names I've had. [LNB]'There's been emails, phonecalls - it really is an absolute frenzy, ridiculous, I've got to say. It's partly because people are aware we have a few bob and maybe a lack of deals because they're all trying to make a few quid. [LNB]'Six guys have given me a single player for instance. They said, 'I've got an exclusive mandate', so there's exclusive mandates being handed out everywhere and I don't want to bring in a player who I don't know, who I've not heard of. [LNB]'I would think that Messi would be all right, somebody like that, household names yes. But I don't want to bring in a foreign player I don't know."[LNB]
