Moussa Dembele deal in danger

Alex McLeish fears Birmingham could lose out on Moussa Dembele if the transfer is played out in public.

The striker has revealed Blues are his "most concrete option" but boss McLeish wanted the deal kept under wraps.

Albion have expressed an interest in the AZ Alkmaar striker but their interest remains tentative and Blues are still leading the chase.

But McLeish fears a public tug-of-war with other clubs for the £5m-rated star.

He said today: "Dembele, he's quality, he's got a touch on the ball but I'm advertising him to everyone by speaking about him. I'd rather it was kept quiet and Moussa didn't say anything but I can understand that he's maybe trying to attract a bigger club.

"It's difficult when someone has options and he's a top-class player.

"To bring in those kinds of guys, to attract those kinds of players to Birmingham, there's a lot of money involved and at times big wage demands.

"But those are the ambitions I have and I would like to try to attract quality to this football team. We will see what happens and we will try our best."

Dembele is in the final year of his contract at Alkmaar and McLeish wants to bolster his frontline, despite the £6m capture of Nikola Zigic this summer.

The 23-year-old Belgium international is keen on a move to the Premier League and this week revealed his desire to play in England.

"The Premier League is the strongest in the world. I know I can be successful in a big league," he said. "Birmingham City is the most concrete option."