Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Blues ready new bid for Stewart
BIRMINGHAM City are set to test Dundee’s resolve with another bid for Greg Stewart.
Reports suggest the Blues had an offer in the region of £300,000 rejected by managing director John Nelms yesterday.
But with boss Gary Rowett keen to land Stewart ahead of the start of the English Championship season this coming weekend, another offer is understood to be imminent for the 26-year-old, who has just a year left on his Dens Park deal.
Rowett is a big admirer of Stewart. When questioned about his interest after Saturday’s friendly draw with Roda JC, he said: “He scored two today I believe, He is a good player that we are aware of.
“But I have gone past the point now of saying whether we have made bids, not made bids or made enquiries or not.
“What I will say he is a player I have seen personally and quite like.”
City were represented at Dens Park at the weekend and their scout can’t have failed to be impressed by Stewart’s Man of the Match performance and twogoal show in the 7-0 League Cup thrashing of Forfar.
It’s understood the Blues are keen to add two forwards — one an out-and-out striker — this summer but, unlike elsewhere in the English second tier, budgets are tight at St Andrews.
Having seen three bids of £1.2 million, £1.3m and £1.7m for Sheffield United striker Che Adams thrown out, and a move for Norwich City man Ricky van Wolfswinkel fail, Rowett is considering turning his attention to Stewart, although he’s hopeful of picking his him up for a fraction of the fee demanded by Dundee.
Potential suitors who have made tentative enquiries for Stewart this summer, which includes Leeds and Aberdeen, have been politely informed that only bids in the region of £1.5m would be considered.
But the Dark Blues could do business for much less, with reports suggesting a bid in the region of £375,000 plus add-ons may be enough to land Stewart.
Manager Paul Hartley does not want to lose his man.
“When we’ve got good players there is always a fear others will come and take them,” he said.
“Do we want to keep Greg? Of course we do.
“We would be silly not to. But players have ambitions, people need to understand that.
“He has been outstanding for us.”