Blues still in Balde hunt

Championship side refuse to give up in defender chase

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 3rd September 2008

Blues still in Balde hunt

Balde: Has issues with Celtic

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Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan claims the club have not given up in their pursuit of Bobo Balde.

The Blues have been tracking the Celtic defender all summer, without any success.

The Guinea international appeared to be on his way to St Andrews last week after being released from his contract in Scotland, only to then have a change of heart and decide to stay at Parkhead.

He is thought to be unhappy at the settlement currently on offer from Celtic and is holding out for an improved deal.

With the club keen to get the player off their wage bill, and Gordon Strachan making it clear he has no future at the club, a compromise could still be reached which would allow the powerful centre-half to complete a move south of the border.

Agreement

"We were very close to Balde last week," Sullivan told the Birmingham Mail.

"We came to an agreement with the player.

"But it fell down over the settlement with Celtic. He couldn't come to an agreement with them.

"It may yet still happen at some point. But it depends on him and Celtic sorting things out."