THE player-plus cash deal which would take Oxford United central defender Darren Purse to Birmingham City and bring Blues striker Kevin Francis to the Manor Ground could go through on Monday.

United boss Malcolm Shotton is hoping to get confirmation of the transfers tomorrow if both players can finalise personal terms.

Purse, who today celebrates his 21st birthday, spent yesterday at St Andrews and Francis a large part of the day in talks at Oxford.

Shotton emerged from them to say: "We're very close. There's just one or two bits and bobs that need sorting out."

Birmingham have been keen not to let the double deals deflect from today's FA Cup fifth round tie at Leeds for which Purse would have been cup-tied.

Shotton said: "If it all goes through as planned Darren will be playing in Birmingham's game at Crewe next Tuesday and Francis in our game against West Brom at the Manor.

"Darren's a very good player and has a great future.

"But this is a good deal for Oxford United. We get a bit of money which is important and also a striker who is a handful for any defender and one who has a scoring record of a goal every two games."

Francis, 30, who joined Birmingham from Stockport for £800,000 three years ago, is valued at a cut-price £150,000 because he is out of contract in the summer.

The whole Purse-Francis package is believed to be worth £800,000.

Shotton warned, however: "If Birmingham don't meet what we are asking the deal won't go through."

If any one part of the transfers fall down the whole deal collapses, he confirmed.

At 6ft 7in, Francis is the tallest professional footballer in England.

He is ungainly and awkward but is very difficult to mark and is a massive threat at set pieces. Yet Shotton insisted that, were he to sign the giant, his team wouldn't just lump the ball ftowards him.

"I've never been one who likes just to pump the ball forward to a big centre forward.

"And that's to do Kevin a disservice because he's very capable of bringing the ball under control, holding it up and playing as well."

Francis's goals helped Birmingham win the second division championship and the Auto Windscreen Shield in 1995.

This season, though, he has been largely out of the picture with manager Trever Francis preferring his own signings Paul Furlong, Nicky Forster and Dele Adebola, a recent acquisition from Crewe.

He has started just two games this season, and been on the bench 25 times.

His agent said yesterday: "There have been a few clubs interested in taking him but he knows Oxford are very keen and he's very eager to have regular first-team football again."

Francis's overall record at Birmingham is 23 goals from 47 starts.

Purse played 31 league games for United last season, scoring once, and he's grabbed five goals from 31 league and cup games this term.

Shotton is scouring possible loan replacements for Purse.

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