Bruce hoping to secure signings

Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce is aiming to complete the signing of the majority of his summer targets before Euro 2004 gets underway as he closes in on Emile Heskey and Muzzy Izzet.

England striker Heskey is expected to formally complete his expected move from Liverpool for around £3million in the next few days.

And Izzet is poised to move across the Midlands from Leicester City and join up with his former Foxes team-mates in Heskey and Robbie Savage.
Izzet has made his mind up to end a nine-year association with Leicester following their relegation from the Premiership.

The possibility of both deals going through has been common knowledge for several weeks but now Bruce will look to move quickly to secure their services now that the curtain has come down on the League campaign.

The Blues' chief has a hit list of four or five players he is looking to bring in to strengthen the squad after securing a top-10 finish.

Bruce said: "If I was a Birmingham City fan I would be quite excited because the players we have earmarked are all proven Premiership players and internationals.

"We have to make sure we bring in the right people to move us forward. When we have to compete with the so-called top five for players, it is very difficult for us but with anyone bar these clubs we can compete.

"I want the majority of my transfer work done before Euro 2004 starts if I possibly can although I have to be realistic. We didn't sign Mikael Forssell until a week before the transfer deadline last August."

Bruce, who is again being linked with the Newcastle United post as speculation mounts over Bobby Robson's future, also insisted that City do not have to sell to bring in new players.

He said: "Of course, everyone has a price, even if you are talking about the best players in the world. And, if my players are linked with bigger clubs, then so be it.

"But we are not a selling club and if the situation arises when someone comes in for our players we will be ready for the challenge and we will meet it head on.

"I've never had to sell anyone. I've got the nucleus of a good squad and I want to keep it together and add to it."