Bellamy moving to Birmingham

Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was tonight on the verge of a securing his escape from Tyneside after the Magpies agreed a £6m (€8.6m) fee with Barclays Premiership rivals Birmingham.

City have been given permission to talk to the 25-year-old Welshman hours after United manager Graeme Souness confirmed he would never pick the player again as long as Souness was at St James’ Park.