Blues close in on Keane

BIRMINGHAM have had a £6m bid accepted by Tottenham for Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane.

City have reached agreement with Spurs to pay an initial £4m for the Dubliner, although this could rise by an additional £2m via various add-ons and clauses in the deal.

Sources close to the Blues insist any potential deal for Keane is still in its infancy, although they have been given permission by the north London club to open talks with the striker.

But the former Wolves and Coventry player has yet to discuss personal terms with the midlands club.

City manager Alex McLeish is a known admirer of Keane, who has been told he can leave White Hart Lane after slipping down the pecking order.

McLeish has continually stressed the need for Birmingham to sign a quality striker.

He is aware a lack of goals has seen them become embroiled in a Barclays Premier League relegation battle this season. Midfielder Craig Gardner is their leading marksman with just five goals.

If Keane does move to St Andrew’s he will link up with winger David Bentley, who has moved from Spurs on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

West Ham manager Avram Grant also want Keane, although his initial offer of a loan deal was turned down by Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. It remains to be seen if Grant follows up his interest with a firm offer now Birmingham have shown their hand.

Keane’s transfer is just a number of issues that have been taking up Redknapp’s time ahead of his side’s meeting with Manchester United at White Hart Lane tomorrow.

He yesterday denied the media circus surrounding David Beckham’s presence at the club has affected preparations for the crunch match.

Redknapp’s claim that Spurs are serious title contenders will be put to the test when they take on the Red Devils, who top the table and have an eight-point lead over the north London side with a match in hand.

The build-up to this weekend’s game at White Hart Lane has been overshadowed by former United star Beckham, who started a four-week training spell with the club on Monday.

Ever since Beckham’s arrival there has been a throng of camera crews and photographers stationed outside the club’s training ground in Chigwell, Essex, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder.

But Redknapp rejected the suggestion that Beckham’s arrival at the club had done more harm than good and maintains his squad will benefit from Beckham’s presence regardless of whether a loan deal can be agreed with his parent club or not.

“David has brought a buzz around the place,” Redknapp said.

“There are lots more press here today than normal. There are people outside the ground every day.

“Once we come in here we train and get on with it. It doesn’t affect us.

“It has been good having him here. Everyone respects him, likes him.

“There’s nothing flashy about him, in my opinion. He just comes in and just gets on with it. He’s a great role model for any footballer.”

Talks about a loan move for the 35-year-old have still to materialise into a concrete deal, with the Galaxy refusing to budge on their insistence that Beckham must return to pre-season training by the middle of February.

That would appear to have dealt a blow to Tottenham’s chances of sealing a deal for Beckham, especially given that Redknapp will have to discard one member of his 25-man squad at the end of January if the midfielder is to play through February and until March.

The Spurs boss added that the former England captain is two weeks away from full fitness and never intended to throw him into the mix for tomorrow’s match against his old club.

“I never felt he’d be fit enough to play this week,” Redknapp said.