Birmingham boss McLeish closing in on Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel

Brum bound? Michel (left)Birmingham are closing in on the signing of Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel ina £3 million deal. City expect to know in the next 24 hours whether the 24-year-old playmaker willbecome manager Alex McLeish's first signing during the January transfer window. Sources close to the club are confident one or two remaining loose ends will betied up to ensure Michel finally makes the move to St. Andrews. A medical has even been provisionally arranged for Wednesday by the midlandsclub.Michel has been a long-term target of McLeish, who was optimistic of signingthe player last summer before the two clubs could not agree on the method ofpayment. But Michel has remained on McLeish's radar and negotiations were reopened onceCarson Yeung's takeover of Birmingham was completed. McLeish has been delighted with the midfield combination of Lee Bowyer andBarry Ferguson in propelling City into the top 10 of the Barclays PremierLeague. But he feels the passing range and youthfulness of Michel can add a newdimension to Blues' play during the second half of the campaign.  JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW 2010: All the moves at every Premier League clubAmbitious Boro hold £1.5m talks to sign Rangers striker Kris Boyd BIRMINGHAM CITY FC

Source: Daily_Mail