Juan Roman Riquelme linked to Blues

Birmingham have been linked with a double raid for Argentina star Juan Roman Riquelme and Chile striker Humberto Suazo.

Midfielder Riquelme, a free agent after being released by Boca Juniors, has emerged as a shock target for Blues boss Alex McLeish.

Riquelme has already rejected moves to West Ham and Flamengo and is understood to be keen on staying in South America, despite being initially attracted to England.

The Hammers were reportedly in pole position to sign the playmaker last month, but a change of heart from Riquelme scuppered the move.

The 32-year-old had had three spells at Boca and spent a season at Barcelona in 2002-03, before signing for Villarreal until returning to Argentina in 2007.

Suazo is a target for Sunderland's ex-Blues chief Steve Bruce and spent last season on loan at Real Zaragoza before playing for Chile in the World Cup.

The 29-year-old's club Monterrey are keen to sell the striker for £7million and with Blues actively looking for a new hitman Sauzo, who was linked with Tottenham in December, fits the bill.

The Chilean has spent his entire career in South America, apart from a brief loan spell in Spain this year where he scored six goals in 17 games for Zaragoza.

During his country's World Cup qualifiers, he finished top scorer of South America's CONMEBOL qualifying section with 10 goals.

McLeish is currently in Beijing with his squad as they tour Hong Kong and China.

They beat a Hong Kong XI 3-2 on Sunday and play Beijing Guoan in the city's Olympic Stadium - known as the Bird's Nest - tomorrow.