By Paul Holland
April 3 2002

Birmingham are hoping to turn Paul Devlin's loan deal from Sheffield United into a permanent deal for a fee of around £200,000. Devlin is coming to the end of his second month on loan with the Blues and boss Steve Bruce is seeking talks with the Blades.

Blades assistant boss Kevin Blackwell confirmed that his club are aware Devlin and Bruce wanted to make the deal permanent.

Bruce said: "We are making inroads into that and hopefully we can get something sorted out."

Blackwell added: "We know they want to keep him and we're just waiting to see what they have to offer for the player,"

Devlin, 29, who has already had one spell at St Andrews between 1996 and 1998, still has more than two years left on his United contract