Blues plan £8million bid for Babel

Birmingham City are understood to be preparing an £8million raid for Liverpool's out-of-favour winger Ryan Babel.

A move for the Dutchman shows new owner Carson Yeung's commitment in backing boss Alex McLeish, who has guided Blues to eighth in the Premier League after an unbeaten run of 11 games.

Yeung is ready to finance McLeish's push for a Europa League place and has promised the manager £40million to spend this month.

Liverpool value the player at around £12million and are not expected to accept Blues' first bid, but any knockback is unlikely to deter Yeung.

Babel, who signed for the Reds for £11.7million from Ajax in 2007, is unhappy with his lack of action at Anfield and could be persuaded to move, with his last start coming against Manchester City in November.

The wide man is Liverpool's most saleable asset and, while manager Rafael Benitez wasn't planning to sell the 23-year-old, the Reds boss will have to offload players to raise cash to buy in transfer window.

It would be a high profile capture and McLeish admits there could be a "marquee signing" - but only if it is beneficial to the team.

He said: "We won't rule out a marquee signing, if there is someone out there who I think can make a huge difference to this team. We would try if we could but there has to be a cut off point.

"I don't think there's any point in bringing players who are not as good as what we have. You don't progress doing that."

McLeish is expected to renew his interest in Glasgow Rangers striker Kris Boyd, but faces competition from Championship club Middlesbrough. Boyd is out of contract at the end of the season and could be available for £1.5million. Boro boss Gordon Strachan reportedly held talks with the player's agent on Sunday.

Blues have other irons in the fire, with McLeish expressing an interest in Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia with a move for Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel is imminent.

Reports have also linked them with Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi but the German international's wages are believed to be too high.