Blues Still Hopeful of Tesche Deal

Birmingham City transfer target Robert Tesche started in Nottingham Forest`s 4-2 pre-season defeat over Odesne BK on Wednesday. The German was on loan at St. Andrew`s last season and obtaining his signature on a permanent basis has been a summer priority for Blues boss Gary Rowett.

Tesche was selected to start the game by manager Dougie Freedman in a line-up that was a mix between first choice players, youngsters and trialists. As expected, Freedman is running the rule over all of his players including Tesche. It is thought that Blues are still working on a deal to bring the 28 year-old to the club. It is likely that talks between the two clubs will resume when Rowett and his team return from their summer training camp in Marbella.

Tesche is at the top of Rowett`s list of midfield transfer targets but the Blues manager will not hesitate to look elsewhere if a deal cannot be struck soon. The Wismar-born man is reportedly earning in the region of £30,000 a week at the City Ground which could prove to be a stumbling block in the deal unless the player agrees to a wage decrease.

In August 2014, Tesche agreed a one year deal with Forest which expires next month, but the club have the option to extend it for a further year.

Back in March, Freedman told the Nottingham Post that Tesche still has a future at the club and the loan was a short-term arrangement in order to get Tesche first team football. However, since then, Blues have been in dialogue with Forest to take him permanently and still remain hopeful of a positive conculsion.

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