Bruce targets Morrison for Blues

Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison as his number one striker target.

Bruce wants to bring Morrison, who played for him during his time at Selhurst Park, to St Andrews with Birmingham’s Andrew Johnson possibly going in the other direction.

Bruce’s preference for Morrison is why he has not moved for Polish striker Emmanuel Olisadebe, despite having agreed at fee with the player’s Greek club Panathinaikos.

But if Palace refuse to accept Birmingham’s bid of £3m (€4.66m) plus Johnson for the £5m-rated (€7.7m) Morrison then Bruce will complete his move for Olisadebe.

After signing Wimbledon defender Kenny Cunningham, to add to midfield captures Robbie Savage and Aliou Cisse, Bruce admitted he was close to knowing which striker would be joining his Premiership new boys.

‘‘Supporters must be fed up that we seem to get linked with every player in the world,’’ Bruce told the Birmingham Evening Mail.

‘‘I never ever try to pick out names of those I am after because it just alerts other clubs and you could end up with egg on your face.

‘‘Trouble is, it is easier said than done in these days of agents, media interest, the Internet and all the rest of it.

‘‘Make no mistake, if I think I can get the right player then I will act.

‘‘What people don’t tend to understand, though, is that you have a first choice yet you must also have in mind alternatives.

‘‘If you have to go down your list, then that’s the frustrating part of it.’’

Bruce has so far seen possible moves for Empoli’s Massimo Maccarone, Inter Milan’s Mohammed Kallon and Sochaux’s Pierre-Alain Frau come to nothing.