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Leeds have reached an agreement with Birmingham for the signing of Stern John - but could face late competition from Coventry for the striker.


The two Championship clubs have both had £150,000 offers accepted for the Trinidad & Tobago marksman, who has fallen out of favour at St Andrews

With Leeds and Coventry due to meet at Elland Road on Saturday, John will be lining up for one of them, unless another club makes an 11th hour bid to hijack the deal.

Goal-shy Leeds have had an offer accepted for the 27-year-old former Nottingham Forest striker, who returns from international duty on Thursday.

Elland Road manager Kevin Blackwell has yet to see one of his strikers score a goal after five Championship matches and a Coca Cola Cup tie this season and believes John can provide the spark.

He said: "We've agreed everything and the decision is down to the player where he wants to play his football. The lad is a proven goalscorer. He's pacy, has an eye for goal and he's proven at this level.

"His scoring record at Forest was tremendous and that's what led to his move to Birmingham in the first place."

John is out in the cold at Birmingham after the transfer deadline day arrival of Dwight Yorke. He cost Forest £1.5m from American side Columbus Crew but Birmingham signed him for a cut-price £150,000 two years ago.

Leeds director Peter Lorimer said: "Everything now depends on whether Stern wants to carry on playing his football in the Midlands or fancies moving north to play for Leeds.

"Kevin is still very keen to boost the midfield by signing Sean Gregan from West Brom but their chairman [Jeremy Peace] is away and it seems they are not in a hurry."