Departing Birmingham City powerbroker David Sullivan is ready to step up efforts to but West Ham United.

The Mirror says Sullivan will step up his efforts to buy West Ham next week when he gets £25million from Carson Yeung.

Hong Kong businessman Yeung had his takeover bid for City rubber-stamped yesterday after paying £1 a share.

And Sullivan and the Gold brothers are due the money for their combined shareholding in five working days.

Essex-based Sullivan, 60, is keen to stay in football and hopes to buy Premier League strugglers West Ham.

He wants to go through the Hammers' books in the next few days and assess their debts.