Birmingham City are in 'pole position' to land Mohammed Kallon, if they elect to offer the striker a permanent stay at St Andrews.
Bruce has first option on striker
Birmingham City are in 'pole position' to land Mohammed Kallon, if they elect to offer the striker a permanent stay at St Andrews.
In a bid to pep-up his striking options, Blues boss Steve Bruce has spent the past couple of days observing Kallon in training, before giving the Sierra Leone star playing time in a private friendly against Kidderminster, a game in which the 27-year-old netted.
Kallon is available on a free transfer having had his contract paid-up by Monaco, who had previously allowed him a lucrative loan switch to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.
The player's time in the Gulf saw him earn a reported £100,000 per-week, so, with his financial future looking bright; Kallon has pitched up in the Premier League in a bid to prove himself on the field.
Bruce has refuted the claim that the former Internazionale man is on trial in the Midlands, but he is confident that Birmingham are in a strong position, should they wish to pursue a deal.
No trial
"It's wrong to say he's on trial," Bruce insisted.
"I know the agent, he said he was coming to England and could he train with us.
"I said no problem at all and we've been having a look at him.
"He's training with us and getting into shape. If he can do us a turn, then we're in pole position to sort something out.
"At Ipswich Town, Kallon played an unbelievable game for Inter Milan. Quick, lively, they couldn't live with him. That in itself tells you something.
"He got a move to Monaco and then had a loan period to Saudi Arabia, which earned him a few bob!
"Like I said, he's been with us a few days now and we're considering what's best."
