Blues Stand Firm Over Heskey Price

Steve Bruce has insisted Birminghams resolve over the transfer fee required for Emile Heskey won't be broken.

Wigan have already gone public over their interest in the player and it is also believed that Blackburn and Fulham are said to be interested in the former England international who scored a career best of only 4 goals in last seasons relegation ending campaign.

Reports suggest that Wigan have proposed a swop deal involving Jason Roberts but with a pathetic cash fee associated to it.

Fulham are believed to be investigating the idea of sending Collins John to St Andrews to sweeten the deal but won't pay anymore than a £1 million fee in adjustment for Heskey.

Speaking to the press manager Steve Bruce said:

'It's no surprise that the scavenger clubs have been sniffing around after we were relegated.

'But if they think we're a soft target, then they've got another thing coming. What everyone has got to understand - and I'd like to get this message across to our supporters especially - is that we are going to do everything we possibly can to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

'When I met with the board for talks after the season finished, we all agreed on a course of action that would give us the best chance of doing that.

'Not selling our best players - the Emile Heskeys, Jermaine Pennants, Mikael Forssells and so on - was part of that course of action. Now if we get offers that we believe meet our valuations, then we will consider them of course.

'Players will only move on if it suits us and everything is right - but we have no desire to sell anybody anyway.

'And remember, some of these players we are talking about were part of a relegated team. They should be determined to make up for that by helping bring us straight back.'

I'm sorry Steve but determination was more important in keeping us up, and 4 goals as a return in a whole season simply does not justify the price tag that Blues probably want for Heskey.

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