Coca-Cola Divisions: Birmingham

Birmingham City are keen to make a double raid on Celtic to land strikers Henrik Larsson and John Hartson.

Larsson will leave Parkhead at the end of the season when his contract ends and his agent Rob Jansen has already revealed the Swede could consider a move to the Barclaycard Premiership.

His decision to quit Celtic is set to spark a race for his signature and Birmingham are keen to make their interest in the player known.

And they are hopeful of completing a double swoop by luring strike-partner Hartson - who has 18 months left on his current deal - back to England.

Birmingham want to sign Mikael Forssell permanently but are not chasing Robbie Keane.

Birmingham have dismissed speculation that Christophe Dugarry has quit the Barclaycard Premiership club and returned to France for good.

Rumours have been rife that the World Cup winner is looking to end his stay at St Andrews and negotiate a pay-off.

But Birmingham manager Steve Bruce insisted that he expected Dugarry to be back at the club next week from a short break at home.

Originally posted by Sir
Birmingham have dismissed speculation that Christophe Dugarry has quit the Barclaycard Premiership club and returned to France for good.

Rumours have been rife that the World Cup winner is looking to end his stay at St Andrews and negotiate a pay-off.

But Birmingham manager Steve Bruce insisted that he expected Dugarry to be back at the club next week from a short break at home.

Well the rumours were right as Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has expressed his sadness at the departure of Christophe Dugarry from the club.The France World Cup striker has parted company with City by mutual consent after a difficult season in the Premiership.
The 31-year-old earned a permanent deal at St Andrews last summer after initially joining the club on loan but a niggling knee injury and problems with his family settling in England have taken their toll.

Bryan Hughes and Mikael Forssell put Birmingham back on course for Europe, and dealt a blow to Leeds' survival hopes by winning a pulsating Barclaycard Premiership clash 4-1 at St. Andrews.Hughes, who is on the verge of signing a new three-year contract, enabled the home side to recover from Mark Viduka's early strike with a two-goal blast.Then Forssell's double took his own tally for the campaign to 18, and the fans were chanting 'sign him up' when the on-loan Chelsea striker was substituted to a standing ovation.Birmingham are now level on points with Newcastle - they are in action on Sunday - following a match where both defences looked anything but solid.

Birmingham spanked Leeds yesterday,Forsell looks a great striker and i bet Chelsea hang on to him for next season and he is a first choice striker.

Birmingham and Charlton - two other sides with ambitions to play in Europe's premier club competition - played out a 1-1 draw at the Valley.

Clinton Morrison gave the visitors an 84th-minute lead but Matt Holland equalised for Charlton two minutes later.

Birmingham are reported to have made the first move in the summer chase for Leeds striker Alan Smith by making a club-record £7m bid.

Blues boss Steve Bruce has made it clear that he will be looking to bolster his squad in the close season and make a more concerted bid for honours in 2004/5.

And with Chelsea forward Mikael Forssell having agreed to extend his loan spell at St Andrews for another season, Bruce is keen to pair him with the hard-working Smith to create an exciting attacking force.

Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan has dismissed suggestions that manager Steve Bruce could succeed Sir Bobby Robson at St James' Park.

With Robson having failed to lead the Magpies into the Champions League next season and risking missing out on Europe altogether, speculation is growing over his future.

And with Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd having insisted he wants his next manager to be a Geordie, Bruce has inevitably been installed as favourite to take over on Tyneside.

Birmingham have clinched a 6.25million five-year deal to sign Emile Heskey from Liverpool.The move had been mooted for several days but the paperwork of what is effectively a pre-contract deal has finally been completed and the England striker will officially join the St Andrews pay-roll on July 1.Heskey is the first new player to be brought in as manager Steve Bruce prepares for next season, although released Leicester midfielder Muzzy Izzet is another expected to sign for Blues.Bruce was delighted to have signed an international striker to bolster the forward line alongside Mikael Forssell, who has agreed to extend his loan spell from Chelsea for another season.

Birmingham striker Stern John has admitted he will wait to see how many players Steve Bruce brings in this summer before deciding whether to sign a new contract.

John, used primarily has a substitute last season, has been offered a new 12-month deal by the Midlands club.

But he could now find himself further down the pecking order following the signing of Emile Heskey earlier this week.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has confirmed his interest in Chelsea midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer and has admitted a bid has been tabled.

Bruce's interest in the 26-year-old has been common knowledge for several weeks along with Leicester's out-of-contract midfielder Muzzy Izzet.

The Blues chief has been keeping his cards close to his chest but finally admitted: "An offer has been put in for Gronkjaer and we will now see what develops."

Birmingham are hoping to announce the signing of Muzzy Izzet this week.

The 29-year-old midfielder is expected to formally become a Blues player when his contract expires at the end of June, and the club are close to sealing a deal for the Turkey international, who has spent the last eight years with the east midlands club.

Steve Bruce is set to step up his bid to sign Danny Mills - and is ready to meet the defender's wage demands to snare him to Birmingham.

Blues manager Bruce is keen to add the England right-back to his side as part of the overhaul of his squad this summer.

Leeds have made Mills available on a free transfer and have circulated his name to every Premiership side in the country as they bid to rid their wage bill of all their high earners ahead of life back in Division One.

Birmingham City have confirmed they are interested in Crystal Palace winger Julian Gray, but have denied holding talks with the former Arsenal man.
It had been thought Blues were close to completing a deal for the 24-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, but so far talks have not taken place.

Birmingham have got to be one of the busiest teams. Going after alot of player's, wether they sign them all remains to be seen but they could do pretty well next season.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce believes the capture of midfielder Muzzy Izzet shows the St Andrews club are now well established as a Premier League club.

Bruce captured Izzet on a three-year deal on Thursday and also signed striker Stern John on a new one-year contract.

Birmingham have agreed "an undisclosed but substantial" fee with Chelsea for Danish midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer.

The St Andrews club are in the process of agreeing personal terms with the player, who is currently participating in Euro 2004.

Gronkjaer missed Denmark's opening game of the tournament, against Italy on Monday, because of the death of his mother.

Gronkjaer played a vital part in Chelsea clinching runners-up spot in the Barclaycard Premiership last season, featuring in 48 games and scoring three goals all of which came in the space of 10 days.

Slovenian winger Mirnes Sisic claims he has rejected the chance to join Birmingham City in order to sign for Olympiakos instead.

The 22-year-old left Rudar Velenje in his homeland to puruse a career abroad, via Austria and Greek minnows Ilissiakos.

After creating many goals, and scoring six times, Sisic came to Steve Bruce's attention at Birmingham and underwent a trial at St Andrews in May.

Jesper Gronkjaer is believed to be upset with distracting transfer news regarding Chelsea's decision to accept a bid from Birmingham City for his services, and could yet end up at Sevilla.

The Denmark winger came on as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Bulgaria, after missing his country's opening game following the sad death of his mother, and scored the second goal in the victory.

Local reports in Spain suggest Sevilla believe they still have a hope of luring the wide man to La Liga, although his valuation may rise if Gronkjaer continues to impress in Portugal and that could price him out of a move.