SOCCER:RANGERS HAVE accepted a bid for their in-form striker Kenny Miller to join Birmingham City, and although the midlands club have also made a bid for Robbie Keane, Miller's potential reunion with Alex McLeish could spell an end to the club's interest in the Republic of Ireland captain.
Birmingham are set to pay an initial fee of €722,000 for Miller who is out of contract in the summer. The 31-year-old is thinking over personal terms offered by City before deciding whether to move to St Andrew’s.
If the deal goes through, Miller will be reunited with Birmingham manager whom he played under when the latter was Scotland boss. McLeish has made no secret of his desire to bring in a proven goalscorer during the January transfer window.
Birmingham also made a bid for out-of-favour Tottenham striker Keane this week but the 30 year-old is taking his time to consider his options.
West Ham are also looking to sign Keane as manager Avram Grant targets three new players to save the club’s season.
Keane has been told he can leave White Hart Lane but Spurs want to sell the striker, who was loaned out to Celtic this time last year.
The Hammers are in talks with Tottenham about the player but, given the financial constraints at Upton Park, a loan deal may be more preferable to Grant.
West Ham are struggling with injuries. Ten of their 25 registered players were injured ahead of the St Stephen’s Day win at Fulham.
Grant’s men returned to the foot of the Premier League table with Wednesday’s 5-0 defeat at Newcastle and he needs fresh blood as a matter of urgency.
“We need a stronger squad. We have a lot of long-term injuries and we will do everything to make the squad stronger because we need it, otherwise it will not be easy to continue like this,” Grant said.
West Ham face Barnsley in the FA Cup third round today and then Birmingham in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.
Co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan hold a board meeting the following day, leading to speculation that Grant has the two cup games to save his job.
But the Israeli met Gold at the training ground yesterday – a usual Friday conversation – and is confident he has the owners’ full backing.
“To live in this club is to live with the rumours. It is a matter of what your boss is telling you and I have a good relationship with the owners,” Grant said.
“I don’t think they are shy guys to tell me something else. One of them (Gold) is here and we are only concentrating on how to make the squad stronger.”
Grant said he was surprised by the speculation over his position following the Newcastle defeat, considering they had picked up eight points from a possible 12 over Christmas and New Year.
With the semi-final looming in midweek, Grant is likely to send out a much-changed team to face Barnsley. Youngsters Jordan Spence and Zavon Hines could both start.
