Alex McLeish may target Birmingham players

Alex McLeish has insisted that he wouldn’t be “put off” from transferring players from his old club Birmingham City.

At the Scot’s first press conference since being appointed Aston Villa’s manager, McLeish admitted that he had “a few names in mind” on his transfer wishlist, but would not be drawn on their identities or current clubs.

“I know there's many good, great Blues players but the policy that I’ve always maintained at any club I’ve ever been at is not to talk about other clubs’ players,” he said.

“I have been bombarded ... over the last couple of days with text messages from agents and clubs alike asking me about this player and that player and would I want them. We’re just going to assess things at the moment.”

Asked whether he would have any qualms in taking players from Villa’s bitter rivals, he said: “If I thought a player could improve Aston Villa Football Club, why not?”

In recent days it has been suggested that both goalkeeper Ben Foster and defender Scott Dann are in McLeish’s sights to cross the city divide.