Birmingham City have gazumped Huddersfield Town in the race to sign Alfie May.

The Blues have beaten off a challenge from the Terriers to sign last year’s leading scorer in League One. The newly relegated club only registered their interest in the forward late last week and looked to have lost out to their rivals.

But it appears that they have tipped the balance in their favour after looking like they would lose out to the west Yorkshire club and have secured his services for a £775,000 fee.

May scored 23 goals in a struggling Addicks outfit – they finished just nine points above the relegation zone – and it is a firm statement of intent from Brum’s new American ownership that they want to return at the first attempt.

He has added May to the ranks and a move for Sparta Rotterdam’s big defender Mike Eerdhuijzen is also close to being finalised.

The 23-year-old made 20 appearances for the Eredivisie club last season but will drop into the third tier for the chance to prove himself in English football.

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