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Rio's advice

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United signing Jude Bellingham is a 'calculated gamble' Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should 100% take.

Man United have been extensively linked with the Birmingham City youngster, with the 16-year-old emerging as one of the most sought after players in world football.

Along with United - Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all been credited with an interest in Bellingham, who has become an integral part of Blues' squad this season.

Bellingham is believed to be valued at around £30m, a fee that would make him the most expensive British teenager in history, but United are desperate to secure a deal, giving him a tour of their Carrington training complex earlier this month.

Dortmund are believed to be United's main rival for Bellingham, but a report in Germany suggested they could reduce their summer spending amid the coronavirus crisis.

But Ferdinand, who won six titles at Old Trafford, has urged United to spend whatever it takes to secure his transfer.

Blues' financial plan

Birmingham City have reportedly asked some of their players to take a wage deferral as the suspension of football because of coronavirus starts to impact Championship clubs.

According to a report in the national press, players who earn over £6,000 per week at St Andrew's will see their salaries cut in half for the next four months.

The Telegraph report that Blues' players will be repaid in full from June onwards, by which time the football authorities hope matches will be back underway.

The outbreak of Covid-19 has suspended all-but one of Blues ' remaining nine games of 2019-20, the May 2 clash with Derby County the only match scheduled to go ahead.

A trip down memory lane

What a player Le God was.

Christophe Dugarry certainly left his mark during his short and sweet Birmingham City spell - April 2003 will be fondly remembered for years to come.

The French World Cup winner bagged five goals in four appearances in the space of a fortnight, cementing Blues’ place in the Premier League under Steve Bruce in the process.

That flick at Charlton, that brace against Southampton including a wonderful free-kick, the control and finish to see off Middlesbrough...

Blues indulged fans on Tuesday with Dugarry’s highlights reel to raise smiles.

Cult hero Camp

Who knows when Birmingham City’s season will resume.

Notionally, the next fixture on their list is the home match with Derby County on May 2 – a game that was scheduled to be the final one of the 2019/2020 campaign.

However, the coronavirus pandemic has laid waste to many things, including the fixture list which now seems such a frivolous consideration in the current climate.

Nevertheless, debate rages on about whether the season should be completed, played out behind closed doors or merely voided with everyone starting again at the safest opportunity.