Source: Team_Talk
Cole and Zamora on Blues' shopping list
irmingham boss Alex McLeish is monitoring West Ham hitman Carlton Cole and Fulham forward Bobby Zamora as possible summer striker targets.[LNB] McLeish has indicated he will spread the net far and wide to bring in new forward talent after missing out on Stuttgart's Cacau.[LNB]Rangers' out-of-contract forward Boyd is also on McLeish's radar and negotiations have been ongoing in recent months.[LNB]But reports that he is on the verge of completing a deal for South Africa striker Katelgo Mphela appear to be wide of the mark.[LNB]Mphela is not near the top of McLeish's list of forwards and sources close to the club indicate the former Rangers boss would want to take him on trial after the World Cup.[LNB]But McLeish has made enquiries about the availability of Cole and Zamora after insisting the accent will be on bringing in players of proven quality.[LNB]Cole has netted 10 times for the Hammers this season while Zamora has been on the mark on 19 occasions, although he was clearly not 100% fit in Wednesday night's Europa League final against Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.[LNB]The fact Blues are even interested in players of such quality is an indication of their determination to build on an excellent first season back in the top flight in which they finished ninth.[LNB]McLeish admitted defeat in his bid to sign Cacau after the player did a U-turn and decided to stay with the German club.[LNB]The 29-year-old looked poised to move to Blues with McLeish believing he would have been an ideal addition to his current squad but Cacau has instead signed a new deal with Stuttgart.[LNB]McLeish confirmed: "We did miss out on Cacau. We thought we had it in the bag and he did an about turn.[LNB]"The irony was when we declared our interest in him, he was out of the team.[LNB]"I don't know whether our interest in him gave him a lot more confidence because he then went on a scoring burst and Stuttgart said there was no way they could let him go with what it would cost to replace somebody like that.[LNB]"He is one that got away. It would have been a coup for us, the type of player for the jigsaw I am trying to put together but we will keep working to strengthen the squad."[LNB]McLeish is still hopeful of signing Manchester United keeper Ben Foster in a £6million deal as a replacement for Manchester City's Joe Hart who spent the season on loan from St Andrew's.[LNB]McLeish said: "I can go and buy any amount of players but maybe not get the right ones. It is important I bring the right ones in for the way I want to see us play.[LNB]"I will bring in the players I feel are going to benefit our team.[LNB]"It will be a busy time. There will be no let-up. The phone will be on wherever I am on holiday."[LNB]Meanwhile, former Birmingham striker and manager Trevor Francis has had his hopes of returning to the club in an ambassadorial role dashed by the board of directors.[LNB]Francis looked set to make a comeback at St Andrew's where he had a distinguished spell as a player in the 1970s and then two decades later as a manager.[LNB]But after holding initial talks with the board, Francis revealed he received a letter telling him the proposed link-up had been shelved.[LNB]Francis, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, said: "Alex McLeish believed I was coming back because he congratulated me on coming back to the club.[LNB]"I held a meeting at top level with a couple of directors and I was very enthusiastic about coming back.[LNB]"They listened to what I had to say, I thought it was very positive, and then two weeks later I received a letter from the board saying they didn't want to pursue it.[LNB]"It is a bit of a disappointment. I still remain a huge Birmingham supporter but I feel I could have done a real good job for the club in an ambassadorial role.[LNB]"Is that about money? I don't know. It may have been money. It is not for me to ask the reason.[LNB]"I just wish the club would make it clear to supporters who come up to me and say 'it's great to have you back at the club' that I am not back at Birmingham City."
