Chelsea are understood to be ready to exploit Birmingham's financial plight and make a cut-price move for goalkeeper Jack Butland.
The Blues are ready to offer £3.5million for the 19-year-old shot-stopper, and Brum manager Lee Clark has previously admitted the club may be forced to sell.
Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Newcastle and Southampton were all thought to be trailing the highly-rated youngster, with the Saints said to have failed with a £6million bid in the summer.
But it's Chelsea who have stolen a march on the competition, despite having Petr Cech as their current no.1 and the impressive Thibaut Courtois on loan at Atletico Madrid.
Birmingham's acting chairman Peter Pannu conceded the club desperately need to sell players in order to stave off the looming prospect of administration, and Butland is currently their most valuable asset.
Chelsea would likely offer to loan the keeper back to the Championship side should a deal go through, and that would suit Butland, who is reluctant to join a club with limited first-team opportunities.
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