Birmingham City FC

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• Founded:1875
• Manager:Alex McLeish

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McLeish closes in on Dindane

29 Jan 2010 - 09:35:55

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Birmingham City have turned their attention towards Lens striker Aruna Dindane after refusing to pay Tottenham Hotspur £13million for Russia international Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Blues boss Alex McLeish had made Pavlyuchenko his number-one target in this month's transfer window but is believed to have been put off by Spurs' valuation of a player who has hardly played any first-team football this season.

Harry Redknapp is asking for an initial £10million for the forward and another £3million in add-ons.

Ivory Coast international striker Dindane spent the first half of the season on loan at Portsmouth but is now expected to move to St Andrew's in a £4million transfer.

McLeish had said of Pavlyuchenko: "He would be good for us here. We are also looking at others, but if we get a breakthrough on him then that would be great. He moves well, he keeps the ball, technically is good and is a great finisher."

Despite recently going 15 games unbeaten, Birmingham have struggled for goals all season, scoring only 21 times in 22 Premier League matches so far this term.

Midfielder Lee Bowyer and Cameron Jerome are currently the club's joint top-scorers with just five goals apiece.

"When you get your own players asking when are you going to bring in a new striker, you know they need help," McLeish added.