Birmingham in for De Laet
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 6:27 PM | by Adam Gray 
Fresh from signing Erik Huseklepp and Andros Townsend on loan deals, Birmingham City boss Chris Hughton isn’t keen on taking his basket to the check-out in the transfer market just yet as he has his eyes set on a deal for Manchester United defender Ritchie De Laet on a similar deal.
With full back Stephen Carr having a knee dodgier than a pensioner with osteoarthritis, Hughton is now reported to be looking to the 23 year old Belgian defender, football’s answer to Hollywood man of many roles Johnny Depp, possessing the ability to play right across the back four.
The Daily Mirror suggests the Blues are in for the youngster who had earlier been on loan at Norwich where he impressed before back injury cut short his spell. Back at Old Trafford, he has failed to add to the measly three appearances he has made for the Red Devils since joining back in 2009.
Birmingham “have to keep improving” told the Birmingham Mail last week as a 1-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest stalled their promotion charge, leaving them trailing leaders Southampton by eight points as they sit in 5th in the Championship.
Youngster De Laet will follow in the footsteps of Townsend and Huseklepp who joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth respectively as Hughton remains busy spying the aisles of the loan market to add to his already thin promotion chasing squad.
De Laet, the energetic defender who stands at 6 ft 1 and has a quick turn of pace will find such a deal valuable to his progression as he aims to somehow poke his nose through the woodwork into the Manchester United senior team.
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