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Lee Clark has taken his Birmingham City summer signing spree up to the half-dozen.

Gavin Gunning and David Edgar have been captured on Bosman free transfers.

Thursday’s double move has seen Clark bolster Blues defensive line, with Edgar providing an option in midfield, too.

Gunning, 23, was one of Clark’s top summer targets after it became clear he would be running down his Dundee United contract.

He was on the verge of a move to Sheffield Wednesday, but they pulled out when he failed a medical.

Clark revived his interest and the one-year contract for Gunning (with a 12-month option) reflects the fact that Blues have protected themselves somewhat, although they see his knee issue a low risk rather than a huge gamble.

Edgar, 27, has penned a two-year contract after leaving Burnley following their promotion to the Premier League.

“He’s a left-footed centre-half and there are not many of those around,” said Clark, of Gunning, who began his career at Blackburn Rovers.

“We’ve watched him many times and (head of recruitment) Malcolm Crosby has been up to Scotland regularly to see him and we’ve had good reports.

“We’re happy to get him. He gives us good balance. He’s a young player who I know from his Blackburn days.

“When I was at Huddersfield Town I watched him many times.

“He had a few loan moves and then went up to Scotland and got settled there.

“He played in a really good and exciting Dundee United team.

“This one has taken a little bit of time to get over the line because there have been other Championship clubs interested him, but he’s chosen us and we’re delighted.”

Rangers also wanted Gunning, who had loan spells at Tranmere Rovers, Rotherham United and Motherwell as he strived, without success, to make a senior Blackburn appearance.

Dublin-born Gunning moved to Dundee United in 2011 and has been more or less an ever present in this spell there, which ended with a defeat in the Scottish Cup final to St Johnstone.

As for the knee, Clark said: “We’ve given him a thorough medical, as we do all players.

“My medical team - who are very good - have completed a full medical on him and we’re happy with the outcome.”

Canada international Edgar spent five seasons at Turf Moor after Burnley beat Alex McLeish’s Blues to the punch for his signing.

“I coached David when he was a young player at Newcastle and I was the reserve manager,” reported Clark.

“He’s a good professional with a strong character and has leadership qualities.

“He actually started out as a right-sided centre-half, but broke into the Newcastle first team as a right-back and played the majority of his games there as a right-back.

“He then decided it was time to move on and he went to Burnley and he’s played a lot of his games – certainly last season - as a defensive central midfield player.

“His versatility is important to us in the way that we want to work. He can play in all those three positions.”

“I think we’ve done really well to get him because he played a huge part in what Burnley did last year,” Clark added.

“When I spoke to Sean Dyche he was really fulsome in his praise of what David had done.”

“He’s competitive in the air and aggressive,” continued Clark, who has also signed Jonathan Grounds, Grant Hall, Stephen Gleeson and Wes Thomas so far this summer.

“Obviously he’s a lot more experienced and mature than when I first worked with him.

“David sees himself more as a central midfield player. That’s his prime position now after speaking to Sean and David himself.

“But, as I said, he plays all three positions equally as well and none of them are alien to him, he’s comfortable in all of them and that versatility is good for us.”