Bruce close to Ghaly deal

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is confident Tottenham midfielder Hossam Ghaly will finally sign for the club within the next 24 hours.

But Bruce is virtually resigned to losing his battle to sign Ghaly’s club and country team-mate Mido, rating his chances as “less than 50-50.”

Ghaly was in Birmingham yesterday to tie up his move and, although further talks are planned, Bruce is optimistic the Egypt international will become his eighth signing of the summer.

Bruce said: “We are still in talks with Hossam and we hope that, by Monday, he will be added to the squad all being well.

“I let one midfielder go in Stephen Clemence and that was a tough decision. If Ghaly is as good as Clemence was in his five years here then I’ll be delighted.”

As regards to Mido, Bruce said: “The deal looks a bit off. It’s to do with different clauses. I can’t say more as that would not be fair on the player.

“It’s fair to say our chances are less than 50-50. We still hope we can pull it off but it’s noting to do with finances.”

Bruce added: “I’d look for another striker if one was available but it’s whether you can get one. We have four weeks before the window closes and last year we did our best bit of business just before the start of the season.”

Bruce has been linked with Middlesbrough striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu but his agent Barry Silkman believes the player would be out of Birmingham’s price range at more than £10.