Rovers' In £5.5m Fad Bid

Jul 6 2008 By Gavin Berry

BLACKBURN boss Paul Ince has made Scotland star James McFadden his No.1 summer transfer target and is set to test Birmingham's resolve with a £5.5million bid.

Alex McLeish - who paid Everton £5m for the frontman in January - has insisted only silly money could prise the player away from St Andrews.

But the Brum gaffer may be forced to do business after McFadden made it clear he doesn't want to spend next season in the English Championship.

The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to Celtic but the SPL champions wouldn't be able to match the transfer fee and wages Blackburn are willing to pay.

New Rovers boss Ince is a huge admirer of Faddy and has sees him as a ready-made replacement for England ace David Bentley who is set for a megabucks move to Spurs.

McFadden made his name as a youngster at Motherwell before spending five years at Goodison.

He was unable to hold down a starting slot and agreed to join his former Scotland manager McLeish at the start of the year as Premiership stugglers Birmingham battled relegation.

McFadden impressed during his time at the Midlands club with a return of four goals in 12 games but it wasn't enough to save the Blues from the drop.

The player's agent Willie McKay revealed how Faddy told him he needed to play at the "highest level" and a quickfire return to the Premiership at Blackburn would satisfy his demand for top-flight football.

McLeish and chairman David Gold don't want to sell but a massive offer could tempt them.