Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has failed to dampen speculation he could make a summer move for Barry Ferguson after describing the Rangers midfielder as exactly the type of player he is looking to sign.
The Blues boss has been linked with the player following comments he made on Wednesday in which he heaped praise on the former Gers captain.
Ferguson is a confirmed target for Birmingham’s Midlands rivals West Brom, but McLeish, who managed the player for both Scotland and Rangers, hinted his newly-promoted outfit could be in the market for the midfielder.
“Barry was a terrific player for me at Rangers and when I was Scotland coach,” said the Blues boss. “He was a boy who took the ball and that’s why he was a vital cog in our teams.
“I don’t know if Barry has maybe had his best days. The one thing I do know about him is that he will take the ball all day long and I need somebody like that, whether it’s Barry or somebody else.
“He could be too rich for me in terms of the wages, there’s only so far we go, which I think is right. But it’s a player of that kind of authority I need to get into our midfield.”