Birmingham City have joined the battle for Manchester City defender Micah Richards.

The Daily Star Sunday says Brum are ready to go to war with Spurs and Aston Villa over Richards.

Micah Richards, 21 is fed up with being left out of the starting line-up at Eastlands.

And he fears he stands no chance of making England's World Cup finals squad - unless he moves in January. Both Tottenham and Villa are long-term admirers of right-back Richards.

And the Premier League pair are expected to launch bids for the £8million-rated ace when the new year window opens.

But now Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, armed with a £40m transfer kitty following Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung's takeover, is set to enter the scrap.