Faddy looks for return to SPL

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CELTIC target James McFadden wants to leave Birmingham following their relegation from the Premier League.

The 25-year-old Scotland striker has been linked with a £5.5million move to SPL champions Celtic.

However McFadden’s agent Willie McKay insists the striker wants to move.

McKay said: “James has told me he wants to leave.

“He is happy Alex McLeish gave him a chance to play first-team football, but football is a short career.

“But James McFadden is the icon of Scottish football and must be playing in the top league.

“In the same way the top player in Germany plays in a top league, James has to be doing the same.

“James has respect for the people at Birmingham and for that reason he does not want to hand in a transfer request.”

Celtic have distanced themselves from reports that Birmingham have rejected an offer plus defender Bobo Balde for McFadden.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is desperate to retain the playmaker and insists McFadden will still be at St Andrews next season.

McLeish said: “We are not in the business of selling our best players.

“Birmingham do not need to sell our top players and James is vital to our plans.”

Celtic failed in a bid to get McFadden in on loan from Everton last season.

But now they have added funds and are confident in securing a deal.

It is understood they will make a move for McFadden despite having similar players like Aiden McGeady and Shansuke Nakamura at Parkhead.

Yet Blues chairman David Gold insists McFadden, who joined the Blues from Everton in January for £5m, was ‘not for sale’.

Gold said: “We want to keep our best players to help us get back to the Premier League as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, City have failed in a bid to sign veteran Czech Republic striker Jan Koller from FC Nuremberg.

Koller who played for Czech Republic in the Euro 2008 finals, now looks set to join Russian Premier League club Krylia Sovetov Samara.

The striker received a more lucrative offer from Krylia.