Redknapp signs up Jota and moves to take Song on loan

HARRY REDKNAPP revived his ambitious bid to take Alex Song to Birmingham late last night — but as a loan rather than permanent transfer.

Song travelled to the Midlands yesterday after Birmingham struck a deal with Rubin Kazan but the move was initially called off over fitness concerns.

Redknapp wanted the 29-yearold former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder to raise the quality of his Championship side and Song was open to joining. But unforeseen circumstances intervened.

Yet Redknapp did not give up and told fans outside the club’s training ground on video: ‘Yeah he has come on loan. I am very happy with the window. We have signed some good players, I think we will be an exciting team to watch.’

Song, who has 49 Cameroon caps, spent six years at Arsenal before moving to the Nou Camp in 2012 for £15million and winning La Liga in his first season.

He spent the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons on loan at West Ham, providing some magical moments but also suffering injuries, and was allowed to leave Barcelona on a free last summer.

Birmingham also smashed their transfer record to sign playmaker Jota from Brentford for a fee in excess of the £6m paid to Valencia for Nikola Zigic in 2010.

Redknapp beat a number of Championship clubs to sign Jota, who scored 12 goals in 23 games and made five assists in the second half of last season.

Jota, 26, signed a four- year contract and Redknapp said: ‘He’s a real talent.

‘He can play and score goals. He plays off the right, he has got great ability, certainly there wouldn’t be many better players in the Championship than him.’

Redknapp signed versatile Jason Lowe on a one-year deal from Blackburn earlier yesterday.