Blues close in on striker Nikola Zigic

Birmingham are closing in on £6million giant Nikola Zigic with boss Alex McLeish heading the queue for the in-demand Valencia frontman.

The 6ft 8in striker is a top target for the St Andrew's manager who has been tracking him along with West Ham's Carlton Cole and Fulham's Bobby Zamora.

McLeish has made no secret of his desire to bolster his strikeforce to give much needed support to Cameron Jerome, after deciding against signing Christian Benitez.

The Blues chief is reportedly homing in on Zigic – with the boss believed to be keen on tying up a deal before the player stars for Serbia in the World Cup.

Villa have been linked with the 29-year-old while Tottenham, Sunderland and Blackburn have all been touted as potential suitors.

The player wants to come to England and is understood to have rejected interest from Russia, Turkey and Germany to hold out for a move to the Premier League.

And Valencia's massive debts – only slightly eased by the £34m sale of David Villa to Barcelona last week – will force the Spanish outfit to accept a reasonable offer.

It leaves Blues in a strong bargaining position despite Zigic's agent, Milan Calasan, insisting many clubs have been scared off by the striker's price tag.

He said: "There's a lot of interest in Zigic, 10 or 15 clubs have called me about him but I think they have been shocked by the money wanted by Valencia.

"He has always said he would be interested in a move to England and if he was to go there it would have to be the right club that understands his characteristics."

Valencia paid Racing Santander £15m for Zigic in 2007 but the move didn't work out ending with a loan moveb ack to Racing in 2009, netting 13 goals in 19 games.

He scored nine goals in 28 appearances last campaign but grew frustrated with his lack of action.