Having completed the signing of midfielder Muzzy Izzet from Leicester on a free transfer, Birmingham's ambitious boss Steve Bruce is said to be hot on the trail of prolific Cardiff striker Robert Earnshaw - although he faces stiff competition from a host of Premiership clubs.
Bruce is thrilled to have landed Turkish international, who has signed a three-year contract at St Andrews having spent eight years with the Foxes after joining from Chelsea in 1996 for £800,000. The Blues boss said, "He's a top class player and, with backing from our board, we were able to get him. He can create and score goals and I'm delighted he has signed a three-year contract."
In what could be a busy summer for the Midlands club, Blues have also been linked with a move for Chelsea pair Jesper Gronkjaer and Mario Melchiot. Bruce has already tabled a bid of around £3 million for 26-year-old Denmark winger Gronkjaer, while former Ajax star Melchiot may be one of the players on his way out of Stamford Bridge as new Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho attempts to reduce the size of his star-studied squad.
The race also appears to be on to sign Cardiff's Welsh international Earnshaw, with Birmingham, Fulham and Charlton closing in on the player who has scored 103 goals in his last four seasons at Ninian Park. He would cost around £3 million, initially, and all three Premiership clubs have made initial enquiries about the 23-year-old.
One player who could well have played his last game for Chelsea is Argentine international Juan Veron, after the midfielder signed a one-year loan deal with Italian giants Inter Milan. Veron, who previously played in Serie A for Lazio, has struggled to command a first team place since arriving from Manchester United for £15 million a year ago.
New Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell, meanwhile, is reported to be interested in making Fulham striker Barry Hayles his first summer signing at Elland Road. Blackwell is hoping to land 32-year-old Hayles on a free transfer as he begins to prepare his side for life in the First Division.
The relegated Yorkshire club has announced that Sam Ellis will be Blackwell's assistant manager at the club next season. Ellis was part of Stan Ternent's backroom staff at Burnley until the end of last season and has also had managerial experience at Blackpool and Bury. Steve Cotterill has taken over from Ternent at Turf Moor.
Premiership newboys West Brom have broken their transfer record by signing Danish defender Martin Albrechtsen from FC Copenhagen for £2.5 million. Albrechtsen, 24, has signed a three-year deal at the Hawthorns, with an option of a further 12 months.
West Brom manager Gary Megson said: "We've been chasing him for a couple of seasons now. He is comfortable on the ball and reads the game really well. He has an old head on young shoulders."
Norwich City have made moves to strengthen their squad ahead of their return to the top flight by signing Arsenal's England Under 21 striker David Bentley on a one-year loan deal. Bentley, who broke into the Gunners team for the first time last season, has been pushed down the pecking order at Highbury following the arrivals of Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie.
