Rovers Return With Increased Savage Offer

Rovers had a bid of £2.2m rejected last week - a bid that was branded 'a joke' by Brum manager Steve Bruce. He claimed that the offer, which included a very low immediate payment and further payments spread over a number of years, was nowhere near what they expected.

But now, the Welsh midfielder has officially stated his desire to leave the midlands club, and Rovers have returned with an increased bid of £2.5m. However this offer is made up of less instalments and a much larger fee up front.

Birmingham chairman David Gold has tonight announced that the club has rejected this second offer claiming, "It is still somewhat short of our asking price."

It remains to be seen whether Rovers will return yet again with a third offer, but Mark Hughes' transfer kitty will be boosted by the profit gained through the sell-on clause of Southampton's James Beattie, who today joined Everton in a £6m deal. Rovers' cut is expected to be in the region of £1m.