Birmingham have moved closer to signing Everton striker James McFadden after agreeing a fee - believed to be around £5 million - for the player.
Blues had two previous bids of £2.5million and £3million rejected for the
Scotland international.
But the deal now looks set to go through subject to the player agreeing
personal terms with the club and passing a medical.
It will reunite McFadden with Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, who worked with
the player when in charge of Scotland.
McLeish said: 'I don't like talking about deals before they have been
completed and we are still awaiting the player to discuss personal terms and
also to pass a medical.'
The arrival of McFadden will be the second addition to the squad in 24 hours
as yesterday McLeish agreed a £1.5million deal for Hibernian full-back David
Murphy with the player just having to pass a medical before completing his
move.
McLeish has also been given permission by Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill
to hold discussions with central defender Gary Cahill.
Cahill, who has just returned from a loan spell with Sheffield United, has
slipped down the Villa pecking order behind Martin Laursen, Curtis Davies and
Zat Knight.
McLeish is desperate to strengthen the heart of his defence and Cahill could
be reunited with former Villa player, Liam Ridgewell, who moved across the city
in a £2million move last summer.
McLeish also confirmed his interest in taking Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate
on loan from Qatar side Al Sadd.
