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Birmingham close in on signing Emilio Nsue and Cheick Keita

Middlesbrough's Emilio Nsue (r) and Reading's Matej Vydra battle for the ball during the sides' Sky Bet Championship match
Image: Birmingham are hoping to secure a deal to sign Emilio Nsue (right) from Middlesbrough

Birmingham City are closing in on the signings of wing-backs Emilio Nsue and Cheick Keita, according to Sky sources.

Sky sources understand the Blues are in advanced talks to sign Keita from Italian Serie B club Virtus Entella, while their negotiations to bring Nsue from Middlesbrough to St Andrew's are progressing well.

Nsue joined Middlesbrough from Mallorca in 2014, having previously spent time on loan at Real Sociedad and Castellon, and helped Aitor Karanka's side win promotion to the Premier League last season.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND-JANUARY 2: Gianfranco Zola, manager of Birmingham City looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Brent
Image: Gianfranco Zola is looking to strengthen his Birmingham squad this month

The 27-year-old, who has less than six months remaining on his contract at the Riverside, has featured only four times for Boro this season.

Keita started his youth career at Monaco before moving to Virtus Entella in 2014 and made his debut for the club in 2015. The 20-year-old has since featured 47 times for Virtus.

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Birmingham boss Gianfranco Zola has already bolstered his squad with the loan signing of midfielder Craig Gardner from West Bromwich Albion this month and Sky sources understand the Sky Bet Championship club have approached Swansea over a potential deal for winger Wayne Routledge.

However, Sky sources understand Birmingham's interest in Johnny Russell has cooled due to Derby County's asking price.

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Derby want between £3m and £4m for the Scottish forward, who has 18 months left on his contract.

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