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Boss' big transfer plans
Birmingham City, 18:16, March 9, 2010 ,
Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish wants to be able to invest in his squad this summer to consolidate the clubs Premier League status.
Blues owner Carson Yeung has not indicated that spending will be cut back despite the £20.5 million loss suffered during the final year of the David Sullivan-David Gold reign. When Yeung bought the club earlier this season he pledged £20-40 million for new signings in January plus more funds for the start of the 2010-11 season. Only a proportion of that was spent during the transfer window and yet City are in a top 10 position in the table with only 11 games remaining.
However, the former Scotland boss is only too aware that he will need new faces if Birmingham are to maintain their current league position. He expects that the remaining £14 million promised, plus any more funds that are made available, will put him in a strong position in the transfer market and the boss has ear-marked his front line as a major area for investment.
McLeish said: "In forward areas we need to add to the quality - and these areas are not cheap. You don't get cheap players coming in there. We have spent, I think overall, during the season, about £15million or £16million. But that was for about six or seven players. To get six or seven players for £16million this summer, I think will be well-nigh impossible, unless we can get four or five Bosmans."