BIRMINGHAM want Jon Newsome to shore up their defence after losing skipper Gary Ablett for the rest of the season.

Blues boss Trevor Francis has bid £1.4 million for the Sheffield Wednesday centre-back and, after a day of talks with Owls manager Dany Wilson, believes he is close to sealing a deal.

If he cannot match the Hillsborough club's asking price of £1.6 million or fails to satisfy the terms of payment required, he will move for Bury's £1 million-rated Chris Lucketti.

But Newsome, who had a successful six-match loan stint with Wanderers earlier this season, is his No 1 target and chairman David Gold is ready to back his manager's promotion bid with hard cash.

"We won't fail to back Trevor at this crucial stage of the season," Gold said. "It is no time to be faint-hearted. We mean to convince the fans about our Premiership ambitions."

If Francis is successful, Newsome could make his debut at St Andrew's against Wanderers on Sunday week.

Bury, meanwhile, are set to sign Swindon midfielder Darren Bullock in a £200,000 deal.

Bullock, who is 30 today, is expected to be re-united with Neil Warnock, who was his manager at Huddersfield before his £400,000 transfer to Swindon two years ago.

Meanwhile, Bury hope Lucketti can rejoin their relegation battle at Portsmouth tomorrow after having to cope without his defensive inspiration in last Saturday's 3-0 home defeat by Ipswich.

The knee injury he suffered at Swindon a fortnight ago is responding to treatment but it is touch and go whether he will be fit to play.

Striker Adrian Littlejohn is another doubt for a game Gigg Lane manager Neil Warnock describes as "a big six-pointer".

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