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Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce is ready to offload striker Dwight Yorke only four-and-a-half months after signing the player from Blackburn Rovers.


The former Aston Villa player rejected the chance to go to Celtic to join Blues on transfer deadline day last August.

He made a promising start to his Birmingham career with goals as a substitute against Charlton and Newcastle.

But the Trinidad and Tobago international has made only four starts - the last of which was against Crystal Palace on October 30 - and his departure could be imminent if a new club, who are willing to pay his substantial wages, can be found.

Bruce said: "I've had a chat with Dwight and he's a bit frustrated that he hasn't been playing as regularly as he would like.

"If the right bid comes in, then it's probably best for all concerned that he makes a move."

With Emile Heskey and Clinton Morrison forming a decent attacking partnership, Yorke slipped further down the pecking order at St Andrew's when Blues signed Robbie Blake from Burnley for £1.25 million earlier this month.

And the striker was report-edly upset Birmingham chairman David Sullivan did not back him after he was racially abused by fans at Blackburn two months ago.

While Bruce attempts to manoeuvre Yorke out of the club, the Blues boss is interested in signing Portsmouth striker Yakubu.

The 22-year-old, who has 11 goals this season, wants to leave Fratton Park for a bigger club and although he would command a price in the region of £7million, Blues are interested.

Chelsea and Newcastle are also in the bidding for the Nigerian, and Birmingham remain the outsiders as the player has stated his preference to move a club where he could play in the Champions League.

Bruce, meanwhile, hopes Stan Lazaridis will be fit for tomorrow's Premiership match with Charlton at The Valley.

Lazaridis was substituted in last Saturday's FA Cup win against Leeds because of a thigh problem. n Birmingham have joined forces with Dutch side Willem II in a bid to get first pick of the best young talent from Holland and Belgium.

Blues' academy has struck up a deal with the Eredivisie outfit and the two will now work in partnership, sharing coaching tips and training methods.

And Blues have not ruled out the possibility of the two sides passing players to one another in the future.

Birmingham academy manager Stewart Hall said: "It's a win-win situation."