Blues still have hopes for Balde.

Byline: By Colin Tattum

BOBO Balde could still end up a Blues player, David Sullivan admitted today.

The defender has stayed at Celtic, where he has eight months on his contract.

Blues thought they had won the battle for his signature, with Celtic releasing him on a free transfer.

But Balde had a change of heart when he couldn't get the pay-off he wanted.

"We were very close to Balde last week," said co-owner Sullivan. "We came to an agreement with the player.

"But it fell down over the settlement with Celtic. He couldn't come to an agreement with them. It may yet still happen at some point.

But it depends on him and Celtic sorting things out."

It appears Balde's 'rejection' of Blues was an elaborate part of a battle of wills designed to force Celtic to cough up.

They want him off the wage bill and manager Gordon Strachan has no plans to pick Balde.

It would be remarkable if a compromise was not reached eventually, but the way the saga has dragged on nothing should really come as a surprise.

Blues, meanwhile, will not be allowed to bring in any players from overseas outside the transfer window.

They can secure 'emergency' or short-term loans domestically up to the fourth Thursday in November and again after the January window shuts, but cross-border agreements are not allowed.

CAPTION(S):

BOBO BALDE.