Steve Bruce is hoping to add Vladimir Smicer to his squad at Blues in the next week.
The Czech international is on Bruces hit-list and it is believed that negotiations are under way to secure the midfielder, who is not wanted by Liverpool.
Smicer, 31, is out of contract at the end of the season and is the mystery friend loan signing Salif Diao referred to when the Africans move to St Andrews was completed this week.
Bruce confirmed on Friday that he hoped to have two new faces to add to his squad and he has been busy firing off inquiries in several directions.
The subject of one of those is Smicer, who will arrive on a nominal fee from Anfield having written off his chances of earning a new deal under Rafael Benitez.
The midfielder, a £4.5 million capture from Lens five years ago, has been struggling to regain his fitness following knee problems.
He has not featured in any first-team games so far as he is recovering from a tricky cartilage operation. But he will befit enough to pass a medical as he has been quoted recently as setting a January date for his return.
Robbie Savages bitter departure from the club has given Bruce a headache he had not prepared for.
And a succession of injuries to key players has left him light of fit bodies as Blues approach a crucial phase of the campaign.
Bruce, who saw his side squander a lead in going down 2-1 at home to Fulham yesterday, is mindful of the next couple of weeks with tough trips to Chelsea in the FA Cup and Manchester United to follow that, and he wants to give his new additions time to settle in. He is still without Stan Lazaridis, David Dunn and Muzzy Izzet because of injury and has still not replaced Jesper Gronkjaer.
Smicer will at least add to the numbers in the meantime as his other influential players return from injury.
It is understood that Bruce has also inquired about Olivier Bernard at Newcastle as, after the arrival of Celestine Babayaro, the Frenchman is another who may well be surplus to requirements at St James Park.
