quote:
Birmingham City have abandoned their interest in Andy Johnson after making an enquiry for the Crystal Palace striker.
Blues boss Steve Bruce had been keen to bring Johnson back to St Andrews, three years after allowing him to leave the club as a makeweight in the Clinton Morrison deal.
While Morrison's star has dimmed in the intervening period, Johnson has gone from strength to strength and even earned an England cap.
Johnson scored 22 goals this season but was unable to keep Palace in The Premiership and their relegation has sparked talk he will move on again in the summer.
West Bromwich Albion have already failed in a bid to tempt the 24-year-old back to the Midlands, after their £2 million plus Robert Earnshaw offer was snubbed by Palace.
Birmingham have also expressed an interest but, after receiving no encouragement from Selhurst Park, have now turned their attention elsewhere.
A club statement read: "Birmingham City's chief executive Karren Brady can confirm that an enquiry was made to Crystal Palace regarding the availability of their striker Andrew Johnson.
"However, Crystal Palace made it clear that Andrew Johnson is not for sale and at no point was a bid actually placed.
"As far as Birmingham City is concerned that is the end of the matter and manager Steve Bruce will continue to look elsewhere at other transfer targets."
Liverpool and Newcastle United have also been linked with the hot shot but Palace are steadfast in their determination to keep Johnson.
Eagles chairman Simon Jordan has already stressed that even a bid in excess of £10 million would not persuade him to sell the forward.
Waarom willen ze Earnshaw kwijt?
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Hij is topscorer met 11 doelpunten bij WBA dit seizoen. Als de coach hem wat vaker in de basis had gezet had ie makkelijk de 20 gehaald.
[ Bericht 2% gewijzigd door Ludacriss op 24-05-2005 23:13:04 ]