Birmingham City agree price with Tottenham Hotspur for Robbie Keane

Birmingham City last night moved a step closer to signing Robbie Keane after Tottenham Hotspur accepted their £6m offer for the striker. The Midlands club have been given permission to talk to Keane, after agreeing to pay £4m up front for the Republic of Ireland international and a further £2m in add-ons. It remains possible that West Ham United, who also harbour interest in Keane, will try to hijack the Birmingham deal. Although Birmingham have made a breakthrough, the club remain cautious about their prospects of signing Keane. Personal terms have not yet been discussed and Keane's £65,000-a-week wages would make him Birmingham's highest-paid player by some distance. Birmingham have recent experience of failing to complete deals despite agreeing transfer fees. Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia pulled out of the chance to join them in the summer and Kenny Miller has yet to decide whether to move to St Andrew's from Rangers.