Birmingham City Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Lee Clark

• Ground:St Andrew's
• Capacity:30016

McLeish hopeful on Michel

28 Aug 2009 - 11:08:25

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Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has not given up hope of signing Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel before the transfer window closes next Tuesday afternoon.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a switch to St Andrew's for much of the summer and McLeish has revealed that a deal could finally be close to completion.

He said: "We're still working on it. We're waiting for word from Sporting Gijon.

"It would be a much-needed boost for the squad if we can get him in and it would probably be the end of the transfer dealings in this window.

"The stumbling block is money. It's about payments and the way that they're made, agents, everybody comes into it.

"We're hoping to find a solution over the next couple of days. The club have worked hard, they stated their stance on it since day one and haven't wavered on that.

"We're just waiting for things to be tidied up at the Sporting Gijon end."

McLeish has also confirmed that he is willing to let Gary McSheffrey and Marcus Bent leave the club.