Exclusive: Midlands teams in for Balde

Jun 8 2008 Exclusive By Mark Guidi

Exclusive

CELTIC defender Bobo Balde is a target for Birmingham City and Wolves.

Balde has one year of his contract to run but is not part of Gordon Strachan's plans.

Celts are keen to get him off the wage bill as he earns around £30,000 per week.

Balde knows he will not get that kind of money elsewhere but the offer of a two-year contract would tempt him to leave Parkhead.

Birmingham gaffer Alex McLeish wanted to sign the Guinean last January but the financial package was too much of a gamble in case the club were relegated.

City did go down to the Coca-Cola Championship but now Eck is back in for the towering defender.

Wolves gaffer Mick McCarthy also wants a rugged centre-back to boost his side's Premiership promotion push.