McLeish plots spending spree

Blues boss hoping to be backed in the summer transfer market

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 8th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

McLeish plots spending spree

McLeish: Looking to cash in

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Alex McLeish has warned that he will need to spend big over the summer in order to enhance Birmingham.

The Blues have already broken through the 40-point barrier in their first season back in the Premier League and are guaranteed to be strutting their stuff at that level again next term.

McLeish's success has been achieved while working to a tight budget, with the Scot resisting the urge to eat into a reported £20million war chest in January.

He hopes his stringent approach will see owner Carson Yeung dig deep in the summer, but admits the £20.5million loss suffered during the final year of the David Sullivan-David Gold regime could affect his plans.

McLeish said: "Nobody has said last season's losses would affect things. We were talking about spending £20million in January and I only spent £6million of that.

"I would imagine that remaining £14million, plus whatever there is available to be spent this summer, means we should be reasonably healthy.

Not cheap

"But, if we want to remain a Premier League team and certainly get to where we are now, season after season, then you have got to keep up with the Joneses.

"Do I have to spend quite a bit to keep up with them? Yes, we need to improve again and enhance the squad."

McLeish added: "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."