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Heskey to swap Reds for Blues

Last updated at 07:57 17 May 2004

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce expects to seal the signing of Liverpool striker Emile Heskey within the next 48 hours.

Heskey, who will expect to be named in Sven-Goran Eriksson's Euro 2004 squad today, has been lined up for a £3.5million move to St Andrews after joining Liverpool for £11million from Leicester in March 2000.

It has been reported the fee could rise to £6million depending on appearances and Birmingham's success.

Striking partnership

Bruce has already secured Chelsea striker Mikael Forssell on another 12-month loan and sees Heskey as the perfect foil to the Finn.

He said: "Hopefully we will be able to make Emile a Birmingham player within the next two days."

Heskey has scored 60 goals in 228 appearances for the Reds but with Djibril Cisse set to arrive from Auxerre in the summer, only a move away from Anfield will guarantee first-team football.