Bruce blasts 'derisory' offer for Savage

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has branded Everton’s bid for midfielder Robbie Savage as “laughable and derisory” although he admitted he feels “badly let down” by the Wales international’s reluctance to sign a new deal at St Andrews.

Everton’s offer for Savage is believed to be £2.5m (€3.8m) but the deal involves a down payment of £1m (€1.5m) with the rest of the fee spread over the next four years.

“The opening bid is laughable,” Bruce told Sky Sports News.

“Everton have been after Robbie Savage for a year but this is the first written offer. It is so derisory. We don’t want to lose him or let him go but everyone has their price.”

Savage has yet to sign a new four-year contract offered by Birmingham, and Bruce is seemingly running out of patience after agreeing a deal in principle with the player.

“We shook hands on a deal with Robbie six to eight weeks ago,” said Bruce.

“I feel badly let down by the whole situation. Of course he is important but Everton must meet our valuation and the situation hasn’t changed.”

Savage, 29, signed for Birmingham in May 2002 for £1.25m (€1.9m) after five years at Leicester and won many plaudits as Bruce’s side consolidated themselves in the Premiership.

His time at St Andrews would now seem to be coming to a close, however, despite Everton’s failure to sign him today.

In a statement, Birmingham confirmed they may not leave the offer of a new contract to Savage on the table for much longer but nevertheless would not let the player leave cheaply.

It read: “Regardless of the outcome of Everton’s interest, the board of Birmingham City Football Club is reviewing its position with regards to offering Robbie Savage a new contract.

“Everton’s bid, of which only £1m (€1.5m) is an immediate down payment, would mean that we would have to wait until 2008 for the remainder of the fee.

“Additionally, that would be with the proviso that Everton are in still in the Premier League in 2007 and 2008, and overall the total offer falls well short of our valuation of the player.

“The entire board of Birmingham City Football Club has become very bored with the ‘Everton for Savage’ story, and frankly the offer they made this morning is laughable.

“Birmingham City’s managing director Karren Brady has told Everton in no uncertain terms of our club’s valuation of the player and they have 24 hours to make up their minds.”