Source: Daily_Mail
Matt Derbyshire desperate for David Bentley link up
Matt Derbyshire cannot wait to be reunited with former Blackburn team-mate David Bentley at current club Birmingham.[LNB]Bentley is expected to undergo a medical at the Midlands club within the next 48 hours and sign a six-month loan deal after falling down the pecking order at Tottenham.[LNB]Should the deal be completed, Bentley will link up with Derbyshire, who he played alongside at Ewood Park for three years.[LNB] Heading north: Having fallen out of favour at Tottenham, David Bentley will sign a loan deal with Birmingham[LNB]Bentley has struggled to hit the heights expected of him since his £15million transfer to Spurs in 2008 and is expected to be replaced at White Hart Lane by 35-year-old David Beckham.[LNB]Bentley is lacking confidence following his unproductive spell in north London but Derbyshire believes that Tottenham are losing a prize asset whose crossing ability is second only to former England captain Beckham.[LNB]'If he (Bentley) comes, he will be a fantastic asset for the club,' said Derbyshire, who scored twice in Birmingham's 4-1 FA Cup win over Millwall yesterday.[LNB]'His crossing is phenomenal. Bar Beckham, you won't get anyone better. Obviously we've got Sebastian (Larsson) who, hopefully, we won't lose, but he (Bentley) is fantastic.[LNB]'We were close when we were at Blackburn. He set most of my goals up. He's a nice lad as well. He would be a great asset.'[LNB]After seeing a deal for deal for Tottenham's Robbie Keane appear to slip through his fingers, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is still wary of calling Bentley his own until a deal is done.[LNB] Together again: Matt Derbyshire and Bentley worked wonders together at Blackburn[LNB]Should Bentley sign though, the Scot is sure that his presence will boost his relegation-threatened squad.[LNB]'He's got a good delivery and he's a quality player,' McLeish said. 'His control and his passing ability will enhance any squad.[LNB]'He's just had massive competition at Spurs. They've got a glut of superstars at the club with the introduction of people like (Rafael) Van der Vaart.'[LNB]A deal for Rangers' Kenny Miller appears to be close after the club agreed a fee with Rangers to sign the striker.[LNB]And with Birmingham sitting just one point outside the relegation zone, McLeish is not ruling out any further additions during the transfer window.[LNB]Miller time: Birmingham City have had a bid accepted for Rangers' Kenny Miller[LNB]'You never know,' McLeish said. 'If there is an opportunity for us to go forward with someone and it is good for the future of the club, then (Blues owner) Carson Yeung likes that kind of strategy.[LNB]'We've spoken to Kenny Miller's people and they haven't said yes or no. We'll see where it goes from here.'[LNB]McLeish admitted that Derbyshire's brace, which took his tally for the season to three, will help the striker's confidence but was non-committal on the 24-year-old's chances of making his season-long loan from Olympiacos permanent.[LNB]The former England Under-21 man has his heart set on staying with Birmingham though and he hopes his goals will help persuade McLeish to sign him permanently.[LNB]'I'd like to think I've given the manager something to think about,' said Derbyshire. 'Hopefully I'll be able to start more Premier League games now. I'd love to stay here. It's a fantastic club.'[LNB]The striker became a favourite with Olympiacos fans during last season's Greek Cup final when he scored twice in a 4-4 draw with bitter rivals AEK Athens that was eventually won by Derbyshire's team 15-14 in a penalty shootout.[LNB]Derbyshire's second goal took the game to stoppage time and came shortly after he was knocked unconscious in a challenge.[LNB]The Lancastrian admits it was a special feeling to play such a big part in a cup final and hopes to help guide Birmingham to Wembley this season.[LNB]'It would be very nice to get the same sort of reaction and the same sort of result (in the FA Cup at Wembley) as I did in the Greek Cup final,' Derbyshire said.[LNB]'It would be unbelievable, just to get there. I've been fortunate enough to play at Wembley and score at Wembley before but to play there again would be amazing.'[LNB] Spurs winger Bentley to have medical at Birmingham after agreeing loan dealPardew targets second signing and hints at move for wantaway Bentley Millwall 1 Birmingham City 4: Derbyshire double tames LionsAll the latest Birmingham news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: David Bentley, David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Matt Derbyshire, Alex McLeish Places: Birmingham, London, United Kingdom
