Blues enquire about Zamora and Cole

Birmingham have enquired about Villa old boy Carlton Cole and Fulham striker Bobby Zamora as they look to boost their firepower for next season.

West Ham are prepared to cash in on £10million-rated Cole, whose 10 goals this season were not enough to make Fabio Capello's 30-man provisional England World Cup squad revealed yesterday.

That will not put off Blues boss Alex McLeish who wants a big, powerful target man to hold the ball up.

Rangers striker Kris Boyd has been a long term target but nothing has moved on that deal, while McLeish was surprised to see Cacau sign a new contract to stay in Germany at Stuttgart.

Early signs indicate the St Andrew's club may have more joy in their pursuit of Cole than Zamora, the talisman Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is desperate to keep.

West Ham's joint owner David Sullivan put the 'for sale' sign up on the entire Hammers squad recently - bar midfielder Scott Parker - and McLeish is one of several managers to show an interest in 26-year-old Cole, who endured an indifferent 2005/06 season on loan at Villa under former boss David O'Leary.

The frosty relations between the boardrooms at St Andrew's would not necessarily put the block on a deal for Cole, despite Blues owner Carson Yeung's £7million High Court case against former owners Sullivan and David Gold.

Zamora, whose 19 goals this season put him on the fringes of England World Cup selection, climaxes a fine campaign tonight and is expected to play through the pain barrier for Fulham against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final.

The former West Ham and Tottenham striker received a painkilling injection two weeks ago on his troublesome Achilles injury and failed to train at the Hamburg Arena yesterday, but is expected to play in the biggest game in Fulham's history.

McLeish is also in the market for a left-back and is eyeing a swoop for another player with Hammers links - Fulham defender Paul Konchesky.

Liam Ridgewell has played left-back this season but is a career centre-half.