Clemence set to clinch City deal
by Bill Anderson
Leicester City expect to seal Stephen Clemence's move from Birmingham City today.
City faced competition for the 29-year-old Blues midfielder and had an earlier offer rejected.
Terms are set to be agreed today but, while City are making no comment until everything is signed and sealed, St Andrew's boss Steve Bruce believes it will go through.
And he praised Clemence for his contribution to Birmingham's promotion back to the Premiership.
Bruce said: “It wouldn't surprise me if a deal was done by the end of the day.
“It's a tough one for me with Clem. The one thing Clem wants to do is play football. He was the player of the year last year but I now cannot guarantee him that he will be my No.1 choice. So I have to be fair to him for what he has done the last past five years.
“I will never get a better pro or a nicer person or a better lad, but they (City) can give him three or four years and I'm not going to deny him that opportunity.”
City boss Martin Allen was waiting to hear how the negotiations were going for the player who could be set to be the new captain.
Allen is concentrating on the on-field pre-season build-up and said: “I have delegated all that to other people and we are always trying to improve the strength of the squad with new players.”
Whether Clemence, who would become Allen's 11th signing of the season, will arrive in time to take part in one or other of the two behind-closed-door friendlies arranged at the training ground for today, remains to be seen.
City start with a clash against Kettering, then follow that up with a match against Rushden & Diamonds to give everybody a chance to show the new manager what they can do.
That will include winger Kevin Lisbie, who has been released by Charlton and has accepted City's offer to take part in training.
The same offer was made to Aston Villa's Lee Hendrie, but he has not yet taken City up on it, although the offer remains open.
For the moment, though, Clemence is the one making the big move, with City's interest in Birmingham striker DJ Campbell still high, so another new arrival could soon be on the cards.
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