Murphy nears Birmingham switch

Left-back David Murphy will move from Hibs to Birmingham City within days in a deal that could cost £2.5million, according to reports.

The Daily Record claims an initial payment of £1.5million will be made, another £500,000 will be made after Murphy plays a certain number of games and another £500,000 will be due if (surely that should be when?) Birmingham avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

The offer now on the table is apparently a final one - and the deal may have gone through earlier if Hibs had previously backed down on their demand that the entire fee should be paid up front.

Birmingham chairman David Gold said: "They (Hibs) are playing hardball but we are not that far away. We have made our stance known and we won't capitulate to other people's demand."

Former Middlesbrough man Murphy, 23, moved to Easter Road in the summer 2004 and has impressed during his time in Scotland. New Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen wanted to keep hold of the player, but the decision was taken out of his hands.