Keane not ready to sign just yet

Soccer:Despite Tottenham admitting last night that they had accepted an €8.2 million offer from Birmingham for Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane, there are still a number of issues to iron out before any deal is struck according to the Blues' first team coach Peter Grant.

Grant, who worked with Keane when the pair were at Celtic last year, insisted there are a number “of bridges to be crossed” before the striker signs on the dotted line but admitted talks are ongoing between Birmingham and the player.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp confirmed last night the London club were prepared to let Keane, who has fallen out-of-favour at White Hart Lane, move on but stressed the ball was now in the Dubliner’s court.

And, with reports from Birmingham suggesting Keane’s interest in the move has cooled over the last 24 hours, Grant insists speculation that a deal is imminent for Keane remains wide of the mark.

“It is a million miles short of what was supposedly breaking last night,” Grant said this morning. “There is no such thing as a medical having been put in place. Alex (McLeish) has inquired about Robbie many times, even when I came here in the summer. When you see top quality players not in the side and you want to add quality to your own squad, Robbie definitely comes into that category.

“Alex has inquired about him, that is open knowledge, as he has done so about a lot of players. The quality of the player does not come into question but I think there are a lot of bridges to be crossed yet.

“The manager would love a talent like Robbie Keane to come to Birmingham but there are a lot of clubs looking at him. Then the player, where does he live? I know what he was like in Glasgow when he liked to be back in London with his family.

“You have to manage all that and I think Alex has built here is a squad here who are very close knit. Our gaffer has got to think about his squad, how that would react to his squad. There are a lot of things that come into play. But the quality of the player does not come into question.”

Redknapp, who would prefer to have Keane off the payroll as he prepares to bring in David Beckham on a reported €95,000 per wek, paved the way for the move yesterday.

"I think Birmingham have made an offer for Robbie - I'm not sure, around about £7million (€8.2) or whatever for him - and it's up to Robbie really,” Redknapp said after the 2-1 defeat at Everton.

"If it's a move he fancies, we wouldn't stand in his way. Robbie either stays with us and plays for his place or he moves on permanently but he's certainly not up for a loan again. It's up to Robbie at the end of the day what he does."

Birmingham boss McLeish was somewhat more circumspect on the issue but is clearly hoping his search to sign a quality striker will end with the capture of Keane. McLeish has made it clear signing a forward is his number one priority during the current transfer window.

"It is not fair to name names,” the former Rangers manager said. “We are working actively, the board and myself, to try and enhance the striking positions.We know we haven't scored enough goals. That is something we have to rectify in the second half of the season. We know that. We know our targets and we've got to go for them."