Bruce confirms Euell interest

Steve Bruce has confirmed recent speculation that he is to make a move for out-of-favour Charlton striker Jason Euell.

The 28-year-old was set to move to Blues in the summer until he damaged his shoulder in a pre-season match, but it now appears that the move is back on.

The once club record signing for the Addicks when he was recruited from MK Dons for £4,750,000 has found himself on the transfer list at the Valley, having found first team opportunities limited over the last eighteen months.

Bruce was reported to have watch Euell score for Charlton’s reserves on Monday, and has admitted that he is keen to tie up a deal for the £1.5 million rated player, who can also operate in midfield, before the end of the transfer window.

He said: ‘We have a couple of irons in the fire. We are close to tying up a couple of things. I never talk about anybody else’s player because I don’t like it when people talk about my players.

‘But Jason Euell is someone we like and someone we were interested in during the summer before he did his shoulder.

‘There is an interest there and we will see what develops. He is someone we have got an interest in and I’m sure it will be ongoing over the next couple of weeks.’

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has also admitted Blues are interested in Euell, but seems in no hurry to get rid of the want-away player unless Blues come up with the right offer:

‘Birmingham are sniffing around but they are not doing enough. In this window everyone is jostling around trying to do things and we are no different, but they are not doing enough at the moment,’ he said.

‘Jason has made his feelings known and whoever is interested has a couple of weeks to do something about it. If acceptable bids come along we will have to think about it but at the moment none has.

‘Jason had a very disappointing year last year. It wasn’t all his fault, it wasn’t all my fault. Obviously he wants to play, like they all do.

‘His beef with me was that when we were not doing so well I still didn’t put him in. We put him on the list and during the summer he had a move to Birmingham that looked like being a go-er until he hurt his shoulder, which was no-one’s fault.

‘I can understand his frustration as he hasn’t played for the first team in over a year but once that window closes, if no business is done he has got to get on with it.

‘I have got a big squad but I have said to them that if anyone wants to go then we will try to do something about it.’

Whilst Euell is undoubtedly a decent player, having scored 33 goals in 97 starts for the Addicks, he doesn’t appear to be the pacy striker that the club desperately needs – and at 28, is rapidly approaching the end of his career.

The club also has a surplus of central midfielders, ruling out the possibility that he will occupy that position. However, with only three first-team strikers currently on the books at Blues – with one of these, Mikael Forssell, currently recovering from injury – and Steve Bruce’s mantra that ‘you’re only as good as your strikers’, Euell’s possible move may be a precursor to a move for another, younger striker.