Balde priced out of Blues move

Celtic defender Bobo Balde has priced himself out of a transfer to Birmingham City with manager Alex McLeish declaring his wage demands too high.

The Guinea international is available on a free transfer with Gordon Strachan desperate to save on the stopper's wages, but McLeish reckons Balde is too costly for The Championship.

He said: "Bobo would be ideal for the team that I am building to get us to The Premier League but he is out of our reach in terms of finance.

"I am fine with that. I know that we have limitations on how far we'll go and I wish Bobo all the best in wherever he chooses to go.

"At some stage, we have to say no to certain demands.

"I am not saying he's greedy, that's up to Bobo to ask for what he thinks is right for him but it's just too rich for us."

"That is the situation, unless he comes back and says that he would be willing to play for the jersey, taking a cut in what he is asking for."

Balde has barely had a look in at Celtic since Strachan took over at Parkhead. His wage demands have been a stumbling block for any move away from Glasgow, previously deterring Sunderland from making a move.