UPDATE: Stoke City added to the list

Stoke City: Maynor Figueroa, Javier Pinola, Paul Scharner, Jermaine Jenas, Gary O’Neil, Jermaine Pennant, Kevin Prince Boateng, Victor Obinna, Carlton Cole, and Roman Pavlyuchenko

July 29th, 2010 Simon Rice at The Independent has written many articles that talk about potential targets for the following clubs:

Birmingham: Paul Konchesky, Nathaniel Clyne, Juan Roman Riquelme, Ryan Babel, Aiden McGeady, Charles N’Zogbia, Tom Cleverley, Moussa Dembele, Bobby Zamora, Robbie Keane, and Katlego Mphela

Bolton Wanderers: Lee Naylor, Alan Hutton, Jack Wilshere, Tom Cleverley, Juan Roman Riquelme, Karim Matmour, Franco Di Santo, Rodrigo Moreno, Araujo Ilan, and James Beattie

Sunderland: Chris Kirkland, Nedum Onuoha, Alan Hutton, Tuncay Sanli, Jamie O’Hara, Chris Eagles, Stephen Ireland, John Utaka, Danny Welbeck, Nelson Valdez

West Bromwich: Marton Fulop, Calum Davenport, Phil Bardsley, Jimmy Bullard, George Boateng, Jason Koumas, Rob Hulse, James Beattie, Mohammed Tchite, and Jason Roberts

West Ham United: Francois Clerc, Nicky Shorey, Jamie O’Hara, Kevin Prince Boateng, Steve Sidwell, Jermaine Pennant, Neymar, Yakubu, Loic Remy, Diego Tardelli,

Wigan Athletic: Tyrone Mears, Marcos Ramos, Roberto Canella Martinez, Jermaine Pennant, Darren Pratley Martinez, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Jose Callejon Martinez, Franco Di Santo, Pierre Webo, and Humberto Suazo

Wolverhampton: Andre Bikey, Michael Mancienne, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Aaron Mokoena, Adam Lallana, Benjani Mwaruwari, Jordan Ayew, Tommy Smith, James Beattie, and Robbie Keane

According to Birmingham’s official website, Birmingham goalkeeper Colin Doyle has joined League One side Plymouth Argyle on a one-week trial.

According to the Daily Mail, Birmingham defender Stephen Carr is expected to sign a new two-year deal with the club. Carr turned down a new deal earlier this summer but it is reported that talks between the two have progressed.

According to the Express and Star, Birmingham are interested in signing AS Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, who played on loan for Tottenham last season. Gudjohnsen is also drawing interest from Fulham, but Birmingham are considered the favorites as Fulham’s main priority is signing a manager.

UPDATE: According to the Express and Star, Birmingham are prepared to increase their bid to £2million for Nathaniel Clyne.

July 12th, 2010: According to the Express and Star, Birmingham made a second bid of £1.25million for Nathaniel Clyne that was rejected.

June 18th, 2010: According to Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham are prepared to make a second offer for the defender Clyne.

June 15th, 2010 According to James Nursey at MirrorFootball, Birmingham are in advanced negotiations with Crystal Palace to sign defender Nathaniel Clyne. Birmingham had an initial bid of of £750,000 rejected by Palace but it is believed that the club is willing to sell Clyne.

Aston Villa are also reportedly targeting the Palace defender.

UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, Birmingham are interested in signing free agent midfielder Juan Riquelme. However the club might have a hard time signing the 32-year-old as his former team, Boca Juniors, are interested in signing him again.

June 15th, 2010 According to Ben Collins at Sky Sports News, West Ham United are on the verge of signing former Boca Juniors midfielder Juan Riquelme to a two-year deal. His agent Barry McIntosh said,

“There are at least four other English clubs in the equation … But I think the location of London, the challenge at West Ham and working beside the likes of Scott Parker and Thomas Hitzlsperger have been very important factors in him considering the move.

“Right now, we think the best option, the most likely, and the one he’s most interested in is West Ham.

“I think for a foreign player of the magnitude of Riquelme, the lure of London is always going to be a deciding factor over any other club.

“So unless Arsenal come in then I think the most likely destination and the one Riquelme would be most interested in is West Ham.”

UPDATE: According to Birmingham’s official website, Birmingham have signed striker Garry O’Connor to a new six-month deal with a further six-month option.

June 25th, 2010: According to the Express and Star, Birmingham are set to hold talks with striker Garry O’Connor. O’Connor’s contract is set to end but the club has a two-year option that they can exercise to extend his stay with them.

According to Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish admitted that he would like to sign a few more players. McLeish said,

“We want to bring in another couple of bodies to the squad at least … I’ve gone into training a little bit light as it is … For example, Dave Murphy needs games and there’s a suggestion Dave could go out on loan to get them.

“But it would be difficult to lose him for the trip. A loan would help Dave but at the same time it would leave us a little bit short … We have a few irons in the fire and we’re trying to make some headway … The big thing for me – and always has been since January – was to try and concentrate on people we knew rather than go down that foreign market route.

“There are undoubtedly good players (abroad) but some can be real unknown quantities and I was hoping I could stick to the players I knew … The problem with that is in the Premier League the prices are very high … We have done Foster and Zigic, and we hope we can do another couple as well … I spoke to Peter Pannu at the time we did those and he said don’t worry, the other targets will still be there for you to go and get.”

UPDATE: According to Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail, Alex McLeish is still waiting on a decision from the board but negotiations went well he claims. McLeish said,

“My lawyer saw Peter about two weeks ago … They had a very amicable conversation and negotiations. We left it with Peter and the board to come back to us, so we now await the decision … I’m sure that the debate will probably continue for a wee while yet … Is it a concern it has gone on for so long? I don’t see it as such at all.

“Now we’re about to embark on another campaign, I think it’s the right time to drive it forward … It’s the right time because if there are players attracted to come to Birmingham and players attracted to play under myself and my coaches, then they have to know that my future is with Birmingham.

“Also, the players who are here need that reassurance as well as we’re all trying to build something and progress.”

July 3rd, 2010: According to Andy Walker at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham are close to signing manager Alex McLeish to a new three-year deal. It is reported that the deal should be completed before the start of the new season.

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UPDATE: According to Liverpool’s official website, Liverpool have completed the signing of striker Milan Jovanovic. Jovanovic signed a three-year deal with the club.

June 26th, 2010: According to James Nursey at MirrorFootball, Birmingham might try to steal away striker Milan Jovanovic from Liverpool. Birmingham were greatly interested in the striker back in the January transfer window.

June 23rd, 2010 According to the Daily Mail, Inter Milan boss Rafa Benitez might try to hijack the deal between Jovanovic and Liverpool as he is reportedly interested in the Serbian striker.

June 22nd, 2010 According to Ben Collins at Sky Sports News, Milan Jovanovic admitted that he could still back out of the deal if he desires to. Jovanovic told Tuttomercatoweb.com,

“There is an agreement signed with Liverpool … But if either party wants to end it, it’s not impossible.”

June 19th, 2010 According to Dominc King at the Liverpool Echo, Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic has admitted that he still intends to join Liverpool once his contract is up despite the departure of manager Rafa Benitez. Jovanovic said,

“I will not break the contract because Benitez has left.”

Jovanovic and Liverpool have agreed to personal terms and he has undergone a medical. All that is left once is contract ends is to get a work permit.

“There is an agreement signed with Liverpool … But if either party wants to end it, it’s not impossible.”

According to Birmingham’s official website, Birmingham midfielder Keith Fahey signed a contract extension with the club that will keep him there until the summer of 2013.

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UPDATE: According to Andy Walker at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham made the bid of around £6million but it was rejected.

June 30th, 2010 According to the Express & Star, Birmingham are planning to make a £6million bid for 29-year-old Fulham striker Bobby Zamora. It is also reported that Birmingham are willing to offer Zamora a four-year deal worth around £50,000-per week.

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According to the Express & Star, Birmingham made a bid of £1.6million for Lokomotiv Moscow striker Peter Odemwingie which was rejected. The club is reportedly looking for around £8.5million for the 28-year-old.

Birmingham are also rumored to be interested in Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale but may not be able to afford his £50,000-a-week wages.

According to Andy Walker at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham are searching for a left-back but Heart’s defender Lee Wallace is not on their wish-list. It is reported that the player they are interested in the most is Fulham defender Paul Konchesky. However any move for a Fulham player is on hold due to their manager situation.

UPDATE: Brian Dick of the Birmingham Mail is reporting that Bolton might join in the chase for Katlego Mphela.

June 23rd, 2010 According to ESPN Soccernet, Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela said he wants to play overseas and that he would be interested in playing for Birmingham. Mphela told Kick-off,

“I’m focused now on going overseas … I didn’t want to think about it during the World Cup, but now it becomes my focus.

“I don’t think I want to play PSL again. It is time to move on. I spoke to my manager yesterday and I understand Birmingham are still interested and want me to come over.

“We’ll just wait for the details to be sorted out as to when I will go over, but I don’t want to wait. I want to go now while I am in form and ready.”

According to Ronnie Cully at the Evening Times, Birmingham City have cooled their interest in Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady. It is reported that Birmingham will not try and sign McGeady unless his price drops to as low as £6million.

According to Birmingham’s official website, Birmingham forward Gary McSheffrey has agreed to join Coventry City when his contract expires on June 30th.

According to Sky Sports News, Birmingham are preparing to go after Liverpool footballer Ryan Babel once again. Birmingham tried hard to sign Babel during the January transfer window but were unsuccessful.

Liverpool might decide to cash in on Babel to create funds for the new manager.

According to Birmingham City’s official website, Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips has signed a one-year contract extension with the club. Phillips scored four league goals for the club last season.

UPDATE: According to ESPN Soccernet, the deal for Fabrizio Miccoli is dead as Miccoli pledged his loyalty to Palermo at a recent press conference. Miccoli said,

“I would like to start by thanking Birmingham for the offer because to receive an offer like this, despite having just had an operation on torn cruciate knee ligaments, was unexpected. I waited before talking because I wanted to evaluate it with my family. I have made up my mind to stay.”

“Just a glance into his eyes was enough for me to decide … Furthermore, I am the captain and I sent the contract (from Birmingham) back because I want to stay here, in this team.

“I have done a lot to get back into Europe with Palermo and now I want to enjoy the Europa League in a Palermo shirt. This is the biggest decision of my career. My head was telling me to accept the offer, but my heart was telling me not to. I followed my heart.”

June 16th, 2010 According to Sky Sports News, Palermo will not be selling Fabrizio Miccoli. Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini told reterete24.it,

“Fabrizio will remain with us … Yesterday I met Miccoli, and I reiterated the esteem and confidence the club holds him in. He was a bit worried after he suffered a knee injury. But I told him to stay because we consider him a key part of the project.”

Meanwhile the Express & Star is reporting that Birmingham have made that offer of £5million for the striker.

June 14th, 2010 According to Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham are inching closer to signing Palermo striker Fabrizio Miccoli. Birmingham are prepared to raise their bid to £5million for the striker.