McLeish targets Janko and McGeady

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has admitted his interest in Salzburg’s prolific goalscorer Marc Janko.

Celtic wide player Aiden McGeady is also understood to be on McLeish’s radar, although he would probably have to splash out £8m to land the 23-year-old Irish international.

McLeish’s number two Andy Watson recently watched Austrian international Janko in action.

The 26-year-old Janko scored 39 goals for Salzburg last season and has netted eight in 12 games during the current campaign.

He has also been on target seven times in 12 appearances for his country.

McLeish told the Birmingham Mail: “Janko is on a real hot goal scoring streak. He has a big presence. He’s maybe not yet the same kind of level as Peter Crouch but he’s trying to be that kind of player.

“These players like him are out there but can we get them to come to the club? That’s the question.”

City vice-chairman Sammy Yu admitted the club have drawn up a shortlist of players they will be looking to sign in January when new club owner Carson Yeung has promised to splash out £40m.

Yu said: “We are almost there with our shortlist. Some things we will start to do in the next week or two.

“Alex and myself will finalise the list and then we will get going.

“The areas where Alex wants to strengthen have been identified and we will be trying to bring in the kind of quality that is required.”