Birmingham City are due to hold talks with striker Craig Bellamy after agreeing a �6m fee with Newcastle. The 25-year-old Welshman faced a bleak future at Newcastle after a bitter row with boss Graeme Souness.
Bellamy accused his manager of lying over his exclusion at Arsenal and Souness replied by refusing to ever pick him again.
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce said: "We have agreed a fee and we've got permission to speak to the player."
Bellamy's agent Steve Horner remains in the dark about the bid and insisted he would not be travelling to the Midlands for talks until the situation was clarified to him and his client.
"I am still awaiting confirmation from Newcastle that a bid has been accepted and until I receive it there is nothing I or Craig can do," he said.
But Bruce is confident he can persuade the forward to sign.
He said: "We will be having talks with him over the weekend and we hope we can convince him to come to Birmingham City.
"He's a quality player, quality players don't become available very often and that's why we've made the offer that we have to Newcastle.
"My board have backed me ever since I came here and they've done it again."
Blues chairman David Gold added: "We expect Craig to hold talks regarding personal terms over the weekend and have a medical and we don't see either of those being a problem.
"We've done our homework and the player has indicated he wants to come and Steve Bruce is thrilled at the prospect of working with such a quality player.
"Even though we've paid �6m I think it'll still turn out to be a bargain."
 |  He has been a disruptive influence from the minute I walked into this football club |
Bellamy was fined two weeks' wages after a live TV interview in which he accused Souness of lying.
Souness said: "He can't play for me ever again. He has been a disruptive influence from the minute I walked into this football club.
"He can't go on television and accuse me of telling lies."
Chairman Freddy Shepherd described Bellamy's behaviour as "totally unacceptable and totally unprofessional".
And Souness paid tribute for the support he had received.
"The situation has been addressed regarding Craig Bellamy," he said.
"It was always going to happen, whether it would be a month or six months.
"But it's a healthier club now. It's a week we could have done without, but we've addressed the problem and dealt with it very well.
"The chairman has acted in the way the chairman should and I couldn't have asked for any more support than I've received from him."
MMIX
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