Balde back on McLeish radar

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish today admitted that he remains keen to sign a centre-half – and Bobo Balde is back on the radar. The £28,000-a-week Celtic outcast was a target in the summer but opted to remain in Glasgow, disappointing not only his club and Birmingham city, but Wolves and Sunderland also. Blues offered a two-year deal to the Guinea stopper – Celtic were prepared to let him leave on a free as his contract runs out this summer – but internal wrangling over severance payments and other issues meant he stayed put. He kept Blues waiting for an answer and their patience also began to wear thin. With the January window looming, McLeish has been testing the water again and looking at various other candidates to come in. “I don’t rule anything out in football,” said McLeish when asked about new Balde links. “I have wanted to strengthen at centre-half since I’ve come into the club. I’ve not been able to do Source Bobo Balde remains the highest-earner in the Celtic squad. Even though, according to reports, he is banned from Parkhead when Celtic are playing and has to train with the youth team. One report over the weekend claimed he has contacted FIFA after the club fined him £100,000 for various alleged breaches of discipline so far this season. Celtic really need to forget about the confidentiality agreement they wanted him to sign in the summer and just punt him out in January. Surely the chance of first-team football, as the player enters the twilight of his career, may encourage him to leave before the end of his four and a half year contract ? If not he may stick to his photography....