Rumour Mill .. Dacourt, Yakubu, Ricksen........

Last updated : 13 January 2005 By Brian Cartlidge

According to The Daily Mirror, Blues are leading the chase for £7million rated Portsmouth striker Yakubu. Quite why we need a new striker at this time I don't know although according to The Sun, Blues are ready to offload summer signing Dwight Yorke for next to nothing.

The Mirror also claim that Blackburn Rovers have made a new £3million bid for want-away midfielder Robbie Savage following Glasgow Rangers attempts to lure Barry Ferguson back to Ibrox from the Lancashire club.

One player who seems unlikely to be coming to St Andrew's is Rangers versatile defender/midfielder Fernando Ricksen. Steve Bruce admitted an interest in the 28-year-old Dutchman a couple of weeks ago but the players agent has told the Scottish press that Ricksen would not be interested in a move to Blues.

Bruce meanwhile has laughed off reports linking him with a possible swoop for former Leeds Utd midfielder Olivier Dacourt who looks likely to be leaving cash strapped Italian side Roma. The Guardian are claiming that Middlesbrough have registered an interest in taking the French international on a season long loan deal.

Elsewhere, Blues have also been named by the Russian press as the unidentified Premier League club that 30-year-old Spartak Moscow defender Dusan Petkovic is said to be in talks with.

With the closing of the transfer window still more than two weeks away the rumour mill won't end here I'm sure.