Blues prepare to up Stewart offer after Dundee KO
DUNDEE have rejected a bid in the region of £300,000 from Birmingham City for striker Greg Stewart. Blues boss Gary Rowett is keen to sign the 26-year-old former Cowdenbeath player and the English Championship side made their official move in the past 48 hours. They are understood to be ready to go back in with an improved offer. Stewart — signed on a free by Paul Hartley two years ago — is out of contract at the end of the season and other English Championship sides are likely to also try to sign him as the race for his signature will increase.
Dundee are likely to sell as they will not want to lose him for nothing under freedom of contract and an offer of around £375,000 plus add-ons may clinch it.
Darren O’Dea, meanwhile, insists Stewart is well equipped for a move south after watching his latest double in the Betfred League Cup rout of Forfar at Dens Park.
Skipper O’Dea is no stranger to English football having enjoyed spells with Ipswich Town, Reading and Blackpool, and the former Celtic and Republic of Ireland defender has no doubts his current team-mate has the ability to kick on further should he head there.
‘Greg is definitely ready,’ said O’Dea. ‘I would like to see him stay but what will be will be.
‘If he does move on then everyone here will wish all the best because he has been fantastic.
‘I think there is more to him and that he can go and get a lot better. ‘He is some player. ‘We see him in training every day and he does things properly. He is a fantastic person to have around the place.
‘These are all things that matter, especially when you go up the levels. Everything comes into consideration.
‘I think he can get better, fitter and stronger. You need that in England.
‘His ability is top class and if we can keep hold of him, then that’s fantastic but if we can’t, then it’s something we need to deal with.
‘Greg will just have to go up a notch. I think he has that in him.
‘He is a very good pal of mine and I speak to him all the time and I tell him that I think he can be a top, top player. But he needs to develop every part of his game.’
Kane Hemmings’ surprise transfer to League One Oxford United last week went down far from well with a section of the Dundee support, with this weekend’s big Premiership kick-off now just days away.
The Englishman was the club’s top scorer last season with 28 goals, but O’Dea reckons Paul Hartley’s side responded in the best possible manner with first-half goals from Paul McGowan, Michael Duffy, and Stewart.
Their scoring spree continued after the break with further strikes from Stewart, Julen Etxabeguren, substitute Rory Loy and Dutchman Yordi Teijsse who grabbed his first goal for the club.
And O’Dea said: ‘With no disrespect, we were playing against a team from a lower league and we will have a tougher game next Saturday.
‘Kane is a good lad and a popular player, so we were hurting a little bit when he left. But that’s football and you have to move on.
‘He was a good player for us and a real character who did plenty more than just score goals.
‘He has gone and got a move that he’s happy with and everyone is delighted for him.’
Dundee need no reminding that Ross County away this weekend in their league curtain-raiser will be a much tougher proposition than League Two Forfar whose manager Gary Bollan described their capitulation as a ‘bit of an embarrassment’.
‘We knew we were out the cup after Tuesday’s result, so we needed to feel good before the start of the league season on Saturday,’ continued O’Dea.
‘We wanted a good performance and result going into training this week.
‘Now we need to start thinking about putting in a performance up at Ross County next weekend.’