Alex McLeish will attempt to keep Johan Djourou at Birmingham for the remainder of the season.
Boss wants Swiss star to extend deal
Alex McLeish will attempt to keep Johan Djourou at Birmingham for the remainder of the season.
The defender is on-loan at St Andrews from Arsenal, and joined in the summer with the option of returning to The Gunners in January.
Arsene Wenger is aware that Kolo Toure will be joining up with the Ivory Coast for the African Nations Cup in the new year, and as such will want to make sure that he has adequate cover available in the centre of his defence.
Djourou has made 12 appearances for the Blues so far this season, and if McLeish fails in his attempts to retain the player's services he will turn his attentions to bringing in a suitable replacement during the transfer window, possibly from north of the border.
Obstacle
"I know Arsene is mindful of the fact that Toure is needed for the African Nations Cup. It is an obstacle we will have to try and overcome," McLeish told reporters.
"If we can't do that, we will have to try and look for someone else because we are a little bit light in that department of the team.
"I would like to bring in trusted players. It just depends if the target is available or if we can afford the target.
"There is no doubt I would like to bring in players I have worked with or players that I have seen that I would like to work with. We definitely have things down on paper.
Funds
"I hope to get value for money, I know it can be done and we have spread the net as far as possible.
"Having money to spend will certainly be new to me. I'm not sure there will be huge funds but, if we can make a fist of it in the Premier League, then next summer will be very interesting.
"But, whatever I get in January, I will make the most of it
