Blues' £6m Bobby Zamora bid fails

Birmingham are refusing to be held to ransom by Fulham in their efforts to sign Bobby Zamora after having a £6million bid rejected.

Blues are known to be in the market for a new striker this summer and have intensified their efforts to fill the position in the last month, having already landed Serbia striker Nikola Zigic for £6m at the end of May.

Manager Alex McLeish was hoping Fulham boss Roy Hodgson's departure to Liverpool could be the trigger that sees the Cottagers relent their grip on Zamora, but City's initial bid was flatly turned down.

And, in similar echoes of their interest in Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia, McLeish will not pay over the odds, having been linked with a host of names.

Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow also claimed they had thrown out a "ridiculous" alleged £1.6million bid for forward Peter Odemwingie, but sources suggest no bid was ever made for the Nigeria international.

Blues have already put the buffers on a move for Palermo's Fabrizio Miccoli, while South Africa World Cup star Katlego Mphela insists the club wanted to sign him.

They have also been linked with Newcastle target man Andy Carroll, along with Stoke, although it seems unlikely the Magpies will sell having won promotion.