Diao set for St Andrews

Birmingham are set to sign Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao on loan for the rest of the season.

Blues are close to agreeing a six-month deal for the Senegal international as a short-term replacement for Blackburn-bound Robbie Savage.

Aston Villa boss David O’Leary is trying to sign players on short-term contracts or on loan and Diao would have fitted the bill.

His own midfield dynamo, Gavin McCann, is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury.

Diao, 28 next month, is understood to prefer a move to St Andrews after becoming surplus to requirements at Anfield.

The Blues have plenty of midfielders but no-one quite like Savage and Bruce is hoping Diao will add steel in the centre of the park.

Diao is not viewed as the long-term answer to Savage whose move to Ewood Park should be completed in the next 24 hours.

Bruce is keeping tabs on Portsmouth midfielder Andy Faye who ironically had been set to move to Villa before O’Leary pulled the plug on the deal.