Birmingham City are in advanced talks for Sunderland fullback George McCartney.
The Sunday Sun says Blues chief Alex McLeish is considering a move for the out-of-favour left-back, who does not figure in Steve Bruce's future plans.
Birmingham were interested in Fulham's Paul Konchesky, but with Mark Hughes having just taken over at Craven Cottage it seems unlikely that anyone will be leaving in the near future, and McLeish has now switched his attention to McCartney.
Sources in the Midlands say the only thing holding Birmingham back from making a formal bid is a concern over the ankle injury McCartney suffered in Sunderland's friendly against Brighton in Portugal last week.
