BIRMINGHAM CITY are weighing up a summer move for David Wheater, but fear they will be priced out of any deal for the Middlesbrough defender.

City manager Alex McLeish has been watching Wheater closely in recent weeks and has raised the possibility of signing him with his chairman, David Sullivan.

McLeish hopes that if Middlesbrough fail to preserve Premier League status this weekend then manager Gareth Southgate will be forced to cash in.

However, the Birmingham boss has been told Boro would be looking for more than £8m for the highly-rated young defender, before even considering doing business.

Following the Blues’ promotion to the top-flight, McLeish has already started to assess his options in the transfer market, with the Redcar- born centre-back in his sights.

But McLeish said: “It’s difficult for us to buy top-end centre halves in the Premier League. If Middlesbrough go down, then Wheater?

He is a decent player and someone we have watched over the last five weeks just in case they say ‘do you want a bargain?’ “But we think they will be looking for about £8m or £9m.

And £9m for Wheater, it would be difficult for us to pay that. Listen, I don’t think it’s the time [here] for me to say ‘the directors have got to give me £30m or £40m’. I would love to be given that kind of money.”

While Middlesbrough’s focus at this stage is purely on Sunday’s relegation decider at West Ham, if the worst does happen they would have to listen to offers for their players.

Stewart Downing – facing an anxious few days to see how long he will be out with a fractured foot – is still expected to leave and is rated at around £15m.

But, provided there are no hiccups there, Middlesbrough would be determined to hold on to Wheater, left, whose form last s e a s o n earned him a call-up to Fabio Capello’s England squad.

Manager Southgate remains hopeful Boro can pull off the improbable on Sunday, by overturning a five-goal swing which is likely to mean winning comfortably at West Ham while hoping both Hull and Newcastle lose.

But Middlesbrough refuted claims yesterday they had held discussions with North- East neighbours Newcastle and Sunderland about the possibility of suing Manchester United if they field a weakened team at Hull.

Chief executive Keith Lamb said: “Manchester United will pick their team, no one else.

There have been no talks between Middlesbrough and any other club about what side Manchester United may field on Sunday.”