Birmingham City are looking at making a move for Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick this summer, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper claim on the live transfer blog on their website (14:44) that Blues boss Harry Redknapp is keen to bring a central defender to the club and that he has identified the 29-year-old as a potential target.
They say that the former Tottenham boss had been interested in securing a deal for Chelsea legend John Terry on a free transfer but local rivals Villa snapped him up, which in turn could work in his favour in his pursuit of Elphick.
The former Bournemouth man joined Villa last summer but despite a bright start to life at the club and being named captain for their opening fixtures, he fell out of favour following manager Steve Bruce’s arrival, and found himself named on the bench more often than not.
He started just nine games under the former Hull City and Sunderland boss, and may be looking for a way out of the club just a year after joining.
In total he made 26 appearances for Villa last season, failing to get on the scoresheet, while he has 111 Championship games under his belt with the Villans and former sides Bournemouth and Brighton.
If he decides to remain at Villa Park, Elphick will have to compete with new arrival Terry as well as England international Micah Richards, club captain James Chester and Nathan Baker for a place in the starting XI next season.