Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is refusing to “confirm or deny” whether the club have made an €12.2 million bid for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones, but has cooled his interest in Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady and Liverpool striker Ryan Babel after being told the duo are not for sale.
Sources close to Blues indicate that the former Scotland boss has already firmed up his interest in Trinidad and Tobago international Jones.
McLeish said: “We’ve made enquiries about a lot of people. I don’t want to confirm or deny a bid has gone in (for Kenwyne Jones).
“There is a lot of transfer speculation now and it is not something I like to talk about when nothing has been done.
“We have made enquiries for several players. I am not going to confirm or deny any names.
“But as regards Aiden McGeady, we made an enquiry but we were told he is not for sale. The situation won’t change until someone says he is up for sale.
“Is there any movement with Babel situation? No, we’ve been told he is not for sale.”
McLeish has still to decide whether to pursue his interest in midfielder Giles Barnes who has been training with City after being released by Derby earlier in the season.
He said: “Giles is still training with us. We haven’t seen him yet in a game. We are going to speak to him tomorrow and see what he is going to do.
“I believe other clubs are interested in having a look at him but we will speak to him tomorrow and see what he wants to do. He is a good player, has got a good idea about the game, a bit of vision.”
Blues right-back Stephen Carr will return after a one match suspension for Saturday’s home Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United.
But Stuart Parnaby, his replacement in last weekend’s FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest, left-back Gregory Vignal and midfielder Lee Carsley are ruled out through injury.