Birmingham step up Butt hunt

13 April 2012

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is stepping up his efforts to sign Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt.

Butt, who has asked to leave Old Trafford, was initially thought by Bruce to be out of City's price range.

It was felt that the asking price of around £5million, Butt's wage demands and his age - he was 29 yesterday - would not make the player a viable proposition.

But former United captain Bruce still has strong contacts at the Red Devils and has been given some messages of hope from the inner sanctum at Old Trafford.

Now he is urging the Blues board to press forward with their efforts to lure Butt to St Andrews.

The West Midlands club are believed to have offered around £3million as an initial payment with the rest to be met via instalments.

The big stumbling block could be whether Butt would be prepared to join a club who, to use Bruce's words, are still not fully established as a Premiership club and his wage demands could also be difficult to meet.

A midfielder is also not Bruce's number one priority with injury worries at the back and a shortage of strikers - especially if Christophe Dugarry does not make a full recovery from his long-standing knee problem.

But Bruce is understood to be excited about the prospect of a midfield comprising Butt, club record signing David Dunn and the combative Robbie Savage.

Bruce has already indicated that he only wants to sign players "who will improve the quality of the squad" - and Butt would certainly fit that bill.
Butt has already attracted interest from other clubs including Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Everton and Tottenham.

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