Alex McLeish hopes to wrap up the permanent signing of midfielder Lee Bowyer.

Bowyer spent a hugely successful spell on loan at St. Andrew's from West Ham last season and played a pivotal role in Blues' successful promotion push.

The 32-year-old has since been made available on a free transfer by the Hammers - and McLeish revealed the former England man is close to putting pen to paper.

He said: "We believe Lee will rejoin the cause and that we can we add other midfielders - one, possibly two before the season starts."

Blues has been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market so far this summer and McLeish admits he's delighted by the backing he's received from the board.

"The board's support has been great up to now - how could I complain about the backing I've had so far?

"There are other things in the pipeline which I wouldn't like to go public on for fear of disappointing the Blues fans. There's plenty of speculation - some accurate - some well wide of the mark.

"We still have players under the microscope," he added.

"We can do international loans too and still have the capacity to do another UK one (as well as Joe Hart) so that's a possibility."