Alex McLeish has confirmed that discussions regarding Mikael Forssell's future are ongoing.
Finnish striker may yet remain at St Andrews
Alex McLeish has confirmed that discussions regarding Mikael Forssell's future are ongoing.
The striker's current contract with Birmingham is due to expire in June, but the club are doing all they can to keep him at St Andrews.
Forsell is currently away on national service with the Finnish Army, but McLeish has revealed that talks with his representatives have carried on regardless.
Positive
"It's up to the club and Mikael to come to some sort of agreement," the Blues boss told the club's
official website.
"It's in the hands of Karren Brady now and she will deal with it until such time as she lets me know.
"I spoke to Mikael last week and asked him how he felt about staying on and he was positive but if the deal is not right for him he won't stay on, it's as simple as that."
Shine
Should the worst happen and Forssell does depart over the summer, McLeish remains optimistic that he has the firepower available to him to mount a serious promotion bid in the Championship next year.
"We have good strikers here already," he said.
"Cameron Jerome can look back at his first season in the Premiership and say he did well, but there's definitely a chance for him to really shine and get back to the Premiership and show what a potent force he can become.
"And with Garry O'Connor, although I believe he still has to win over the fans, he can use his left foot, right foot, he's quick enough and he's good in the air but he's got to come back all guns blazing.
"And if Forssell doesn't stay we'd maybe like to bring somebody else in."
Critical
Birmingham's chances of making an immediate return to the top flight next season could depend on keeping James McFadden healthy, and McLeish insists that his Scottish playmaker is going nowhere this summer.
"McFadden of course was on fire before his injury and it was a shame to lose him at such a critical time at the end of the season," he said.
"But as far as I'm concerned he's definitely staying.
"It would need to be a ridiculous offer and an offer that would enable me to bring in somebody as good or better."
