Birmingham City are closing in on Aston Villa midfielder Craig Gardner.
The Guardian says Brum have emerged as favourites to sign Gardner from Aston Villa when the transfer window reopens next month despite interest from their Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The England Under-21 international, who was a target for Sunderland in the summer, has made only three appearances for Villa this season and will be allowed to leave the club for a fee of about £3m.
Birmingham and Wolves are both keen to sign the midfielder but Alex McLeish, who has a sizeable transfer kitty at his disposal, looks set to win the race.