Coca-Cola Divisions: Blues sign Blake

Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce is aiming to step in where former club Wigan Athletic failed and sign Burnley striker Robbie Blake.

Championship promotion hopefuls Wigan have had several bids for the Burnley captain rejected during the past month.

The final offer last week was in excess of 1 million but Latics boss Paul Jewell admitted he is no longer willing to meet Burnley's asking price.

Former Wigan chief Bruce is now prepared to succumb to The Clarets' demands after turning to Blake to add options to his attack.

Reports suggest that Birmingham's initial offer of 1.25 million, with 250,000 of that dependent on the club staying in The Premiership, has been spurned.

Burnley want 1.25 million up front, and then a further 250,000, and rumours suggest Bruce will match that figure.

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[Edited on 4/1/05 by TRD]

i wonder if they have turned to him after its looking like hartson aint gonna move after all

Birmingham City have wrapped up a 1.5 million deal for Burnley captain Robbie Blake.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce is keen to boost his ailing strike-force and believes that The Clarets' top scorer can give them new options up front.

Blake is a firm favourite at Burnley, where he has been a key figure in their continued presence in the second-flight.

It had appeared that the player was set to move to Wigan after confessing that he was tempted by a move across Lancashire after they made a series of bids for the player.

However, Burnley's board stood firm that The Latics' offers fell well short of their valuation of a player they paid Bradford a club record fee for.

Their assertion has been borne out by the projected 1.5 million fee that they received from the Premiership club.

Blake has scored 51 goals for Burnley in his 137 games for the club.

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