WANDERERS' rivals continue to chase January transfer targets in a bid to avoid relegation.

Reports today suggest a tug-of-war is developing between bottom two sides West Brom and West Ham for former Newcastle and England striker Les Ferdinand.

The Spurs player will be released once the North London club have added to their attacking arsenal.

The Baggies have also been linked with striker Malcolm Christie, and could snap him up from troubled Derby soon.

West Ham are expected to sign Lee Bowyer for around £300,000 from Leeds within the next 48 hours, and in time to play against Newcastle at the weekend.

Sunderland also tried to sign Bowyer but were rebuffed, however Howard Wilkinson has turned his attention to Japanese international midfielder Kazayuki Toda.

But Birmingham are the big movers in the transfer market having already brought in Christophe Dugarry, Jamie Clapham and Ferdinand Coly.

And manager Steve Bruce has also agreed an undisclosed fee with Spurs for midfielder Stephen Clemence.

Blues co-owner David Sullivan has admitted he and chairman David Gold will dip into their own pockets to finance further signings that Bruce wants to bring in before the transfer window closes on February 1.

Sullivan said: "The bank won't let us have any more money so I'll put half in and David Gold will have to put the other half in and fund the wages until the summer in the hope of surviving."