Birmingham are hoping to announce the signing of Muzzy Izzet this week.

The 29-year-old midfielder is expected to formally become a Blues player when his contract expires at the end of June, and the club are close to sealing a deal for the Turkey international, who has spent the last eight years with the east midlands club.

"We are hoping to announce something regarding Izzet later this week," a City spokesman said.

"We have held talks with Muzzy and his representatives and things are pretty near to being finalised."

Izzet would become the Blues' second new recruit following the £6.25million capture of Emile Heskey from Liverpool last week.

The club are also waiting for a response from Chelsea after tabling a bid for Danish winger Jesper Gronkjaer, believed to be in the region of £3million.

Blues insist reports that they have held talks with Leicester striker Paul Dickov are "premature", although manager Steve Bruce has admitted an interest.

Dickov can leave the club if a clause payment is met and if the striker chooses to leave the Foxes, for whom he has scored 32 goals in 89 league games since signing from Manchester City in February 2002.