Blues set for Forssell talks

Birmingham are to hold talks with striker Mikael Forssell over his future at St Andrew’s.

The Finland international is out of contract at the end of next month, although Blues could invoke a two-year option on his current deal.

But he is one of Blues’ biggest earners and co-owner David Sullivan has admitted the club may struggle to afford to keep players out of contract now they have been relegated from the Premier League.

Forssell, who was close to joining Hanover last summer, was the season’s leading scorer with nine and was a first-team regular during the final third of the campaign.

That helped prove his fitness after overcoming a long-term knee problem, but his wages could still be a stumbling block to an extended stay with Blues.

Sullivan made no specific reference to Forssell but said: “We have got players whose contracts are up that we cannot afford to renew with the wages they are on and they may decide to leave.”

Bues also have to sort out the future of veteran goalkeeper Maik Taylor, 36, whose contract is also up at the end of June but has no option of an extension.