David Wheater has emerged a top target for Birmingham City Football Club.

The 22-year-old defender was widely tipped to leave Middlesbrough in the summer following their relegation from the Premier League, but he stayed put.

Interest in him remains, though, and it is being claimed that Alex McLeish, who could have as much as £40million to spend in January, is plotting an £8million to add him to his Blues squad.

Wheater, meanwhile, has been stripped of the captaincy of Boro following the appointment of Gordon Strachan, although this has nothing to do with speculation over his future.

“David is a young player of 22 who needs to concentrate on developing his football,” said Strachan, who has made midfielder Gary O’Neill his new skipper.

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