Birmingham City: Hoping to Avoid the Pitfalls of the Transfer Window

We're barely a week into the January transfer window and already Alex McLeish has no doubt been inundated by calls and texts from agents hawking their clients.

With the signing of former summer transfer target Michel from Sporting Gijon waiting on a medical and last-minute details, here's a run-through of some of the other potential signings who have been keeping the tabloids busy.

The first, Ryan Babel of Liverpool, has been priced at £12m, considerably more than the £9m bid from St Andrew's. Why would McLeish want to spend millions on someone who spends most of his time on the substitutes bench at Liverpool and has hardly set the Premier League alight?

He's a Dutch international granted, but I don't see him fitting into the current Birmingham squad. I won't be upset if the transfer fails to materialise.

Second, we have Aiden McGeady of Celtic, a promising young winger who McLeish and his backroom staff will know plenty about. A £10m price tag has been slapped on by Celtic, who are obviously keen to keep the talented youngster.

My only concern is that he could fail to adapt to the Premier League like Shaun Maloney when he joined Midland's rivals Aston Villa a couple of seasons ago.

Which brings me on to the next target, Craig Gardner of Aston Villa, another midfielder who has been mooted and quite cheaply too at a mere £3.5m. If McLeish is building for next season then this would be a good deal.

But, I can't see Gardner breaking into the side this season due to the outstanding form of Ferguson, Larsson, Bowyer and McFadden. With Keith Fahey and potentially Michel as well, I think Gardner would be just as frustrated as he is at Villa Park.

Other names that seem to crop up are Aaron McLean, a young striker from Peterborough who in my opinion would be no better than Cameron Jerome.

Forward Kris Boyd from Rangers, who McLeish knows well, is also mentioned. Although Boyd just broken Henrik Larsson's Scottish Premier League goalscoring record, his value would've increased by a few pounds.

Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia is another name, mainly because he can play on the left. I feel this might not be a bad signing if it goes through as we've struggled on that side of the pitch for a while.

I'd like to see a large bid tabled for goalkeeper Joe Hart, around the £12m mark, to test Manchester City's resolve despite them saying he's not for sale. There's also the likelihood of Blues converting Chucho Benitez's loan into a permanent deal, which could rise to £8m in the summer.

If Birmingham could then find a prolific goalscorer for around £10m, then they should be set for the season. Although just because there's money to spend, it doesn't mean they have to spend it.