Alex McLeish ponders £9m move for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones

Posted Thursday, January 07, 2010 by theguardian.com

Alex McLeish ponders £9m move for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones
Kenwyne Jones celebrates his goal with Darren Bent during the drawn match between Manchester United and Sunderland in early October. Photograph: Getty Images

Birmingham City are considering making a £9m bid for the Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones in another bold statement of their ambitions under the new owner, Carson Yeung. Alex McLeish retains an interest in signing the Liverpool forward Ryan Babel, but the Birmingham manager is also weighing up other possibilities and Jones, whose future at the Stadium of Light is uncertain, has emerged as a target.

Jones signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at Sunderland last January, after Tottenham offered about £12m for him, but he has impressed only sporadically since Steve Bruce took over in the summer and was dropped for last month's defeat at Manchester City. The Trinidadian scored after coming off the bench in that match, but it was his first goal since the start of October in what has been a largely disappointing season.

Two years ago Roy Keane, who was then in charge at Sunderland, described Jones as the "best forward in the Premier League" and suggested he was worth £40m, but his career has since stalled. Darren Bent's prolific form since arriving from Spurs means that he has usurped Jones as the main striker and it may well be that Bruce is willing to listen to offers if he can find a replacement.

Whether Birmingham are able to agree a fee with Sunderland remains to be seen, however, with Yeung's ill-advised decision to publicly reveal that he will make up to £40m available in this transfer window prompting clubs to drive up their asking prices.

Liverpool are seeking closer to £11m for Babel after McLeish offered £9m, and Celtic have told Birmingham that they will not allow Aiden McGeady to leave unless an offer in excess of £10m is received.

McLeish is believed to have been willing to go to £10m for the Republic of Ireland winger but not above, meaning that Babel is now the more realistic option, with the Dutchman's agent indicating yesterday his interest in a move to Birmingham.

"We know that Liverpool is seriously thinking about the offer from Birmingham," said Winnie Haatrecht. "We would consider a deal if both clubs come to an agreement. Ryan wants to succeed at Liverpool but if the people at Anfield conclude it's better he leaves, we have to think about the next chapter in his career."

Babel could be deployed on the left or through the middle, but Jones is seen as a target man. McLeish, who has used Cameron Jerome in that role for much of this season with reasonable success, had looked at signing Kevin Kuranyi from Schalke before the Germany international made unreasonable salary demands.

Míchel, meanwhile, is expected to complete his £3m move to St Andrew's from Sporting Gijón in time for the midfielder to be included in the squad for Saturday's match against Manchester United.