Liverpool and Arsenal are ready to battle it out for Birmingham City centre- half Scott Dann – but prices in the Blues’ clear-out are proving too high.
Kenny Dalglish and Arsene Wenger are keen on the 24-year-old defender, who is viewed as a cheap alternative to other targets like Bolton’s Gary Cahill and Blackburn’s Chris Samba.
But City wants £12million for the former England Under-21 international and that is putting off the Kop and the Gunners as well.
Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers and Stoke are also on alert for him but only at around half of that price.
Ex-Brum chief Alex McLeish would love to take Dann with him to Aston Villa.
But relations between the second city clubs have hit rock bottom after Big Eck’s controversial exit.
Any move by Villa would further enrage the Blues who are still reeling from McLeish resigning by e-mail before agreeing to talks with their bitter rivals about filling the void left by Gerard Houllier.
Birmingham are trying to whip up an auction for Dann, Roger Johnson, Craig Gardner and Cameron Jerome.
But City’s masterplan to sell their stars before naming a new boss has been stalled by lofty valuations.
Dann’s centre half partner Johnson was initially priced at £15m when Birmingham was relegated but his value is dropping as there are no takers for anything like that price.
Wolves and Sunderland have been linked with the former Cardiff defender.
Midfielder Gardner is available at £7m which is slightly too high for the likes of Newcastle and Sunderland, who are leading the chase – as revealed by Hotline two weeks ago.
Striker Jerome has been valued at £8m but Bolton, who is interested, do not even want to pay half of that.
Midfielder Seb Larsson is on the verge of joining Sunderland on a free transfer having snubbed offers from Newcastle, Aston Villa and former club Arsenal.
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