Source: SKY_Sports
Blues close on duo
Sky Sports News understands Birmingham are closing in on the signings of Joe Hart and Barry Ferguson.[LNB] A loan move for Manchester City star Hart has been mooted for some time with City boss Mark Hughes willing to loan out the England Under 21 international with Shay Given the established No.1 at Eastlands.[LNB]Hart is keen on a season-long loan switch to St Andrews as he wants to be playing regular first-team football to boost his chances of being included in England's squad for next summer's World Cup finals.[LNB]A deal is expected to be concluded once England's Under 21 European Championship campaign finishes in Sweden.[LNB]Birmingham have also enquired about Rangers midfielder Ferguson with Blues boss Alex McLeish keen to be reunited with the 31-year-old.[LNB]Ferguson, who is entering the final year of his contract at Rangers, looks set to leave Ibrox this summer after being fined and stripped of the Rangers captaincy last season following a breach of discipline while on international duty with Scotland.[LNB]McLeish is a big fan of Ferguson having worked with him during his time in charge of Rangers and is ready to offer him a fresh start at Birmingham.[LNB]Talks are ongoing between both parties and Birmingham are hoping to thrash out a deal to bring the former Blackburn Rovers man back to England.[LNB]
