Mercenary Morrison for Birmingham?

**Pablo** · 03/05/2002, 12:31 PM

Birmingham City will renew their efforts to land Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison if they win promotion to the Premiership.

Blues boss Steve Bruce, the former Selhurst Park manager, had a �5million bid for Morrison turned down on Thursday.

Clinton Morrison is wanted by Birmingham (Sports.com)
But he has vowed to up that offer if Birmingham make it through the play-offs and seal their place in English football's top flight.

They meet Millwall in the first leg of the play-offs at St Andrew's on Sunday with Bruce keen to make another bid for the Irish World Cup star if his team are promoted via the Cardiff final.

Bruce knows all about Clinton for their time together in London and he reckons he is ready for the Premiership. But he will have to up his offer if he is to land his man.

"We have had only one bid for Clinton Morrison and that was from Birmingham City," confirmed Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

"They offered �5million for the players but wanted to pay the money in instalments and that sort of deal was not to our liking.

"We will only sell the player if they money raised can develop this club and frankly the offer was nowhere near our valuation of the player."

Morrison scored 26 goals in the Nationwide First Division for Palace in the season just ended and has been trailed for some time by a host of Premiership clubs including Sunderland, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

Everton boss David Moyes is also a keen fan of the striker who has stated he wants to play in the Premiership, but only with Palace.

And Selhurst Park goalkeeper Matt Clarke believes Morrison can fire The Eagles to the big time next season, if he stays with the club.

"Clinton can be a big part of a promotion push with his goals," said Clarke. "He gives it his all for Palace. He knows where his job is and he knows he's staying here."

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