Jul 14 2010, 09:07 PM
QUOTE
14th Jul 2010
Birmingham have been linked with a fresh £8million raid for Liverpool misfit Ryan Babel.
Blues boss Alex McLeish has been a long-term admirer of the forward and had a £9million bid rejected by former Anfield boss Rafa Benitez in January.
But the manager is set to go back in for the Holland international, with new Reds boss Roy Hodgson keen to raise funds to buy his own players.
Babel has been continually linked with a move away from Liverpool for over six months, with Birmingham a front-runner for his signature.
The 23-year-old has scored 20 goals in 129 games, but 71 of those appearances have come from the bench with chances limited under Benitez.
McLeish has made no secret of his desire to bolster his forward line and, with Babel able to play up front or wide, his versatility is a draw.
Liverpool were initially hoping to recoup the £11.5million fee they paid Ajax for Babel in 2007 but, with a cash-flow crisis at Anfield, Hodgson knows selling Babel represents his best chance to raise funds.
McLeish has spent £12million on Serbia striker Nikola Zigic and goalkeeper Ben Foster, but is keen to add to his ranks before the Premier League opener at Sunderland on August 14.
Only yesterday the manager was trying to tie up deals in time for new faces to join his players on tour, but ran out of time.
Blues were jetting off for their two-week tour of Hong Kong and China today.
Should Babel sign, he could compete with Garry O'Connor for a starting berth after the striker signed a new six-month contract.
The Scotland international has been plagued by a hip injury but has penned the deal until January, which includes a six-month option.
McLeish said: "If you imagine him fully fit without those problems then that's what we've got to see - what Garry can produce without those hiccups.
"Barring no major breakdown there's no reason why he can't go on to have a successful career."
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/transfer-go...-ryan-babel-bid
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