I think most Reds fans would agree that Liverpool need another central defender this summer. With the constant injury worries over Daniel Agger, and Sotirios Kyrgiakos expected to leave in the summer, there has already been speculation over who the Merseyside club would be interested in buying. Gary Cahill has been suggested in many reports, but another player speculated is Birmingham City ’s Scott Dann .

No doubt the Blues have missed Dann since he was sidelined for the rest of the season after a serious hamstring tear in January, and I firmly believe that if he was fit, Birmingham would not be in the relegation battle they are in now. His record alongside Roger Johnson last season was nothing short of superb, with an unbeaten home record and conceding 47 goals.

At 24 years old too, Dann would also fit into FSG’s strategy of bringing in young talent to the club, and the fact he was born in Liverpool would also make the move even more attractive. It has been a rapid rise for the Scouser as only 5 years ago he was sent out on loan to Hednesford Town in the non-league. He started life at League Two side Walsall after impressing on trial at the club in 2003.

He moved up the youth ranks of the club and was a regular in the Saddlers’ reserves side in the 2004/05 campaign. By the end of the season, it was thought best for him to go out on loan to gain first team experience and he made the move to Danish club Koge BK for the rest of the season. On his return from Denmark, Dann joined Conference North side Redditch United in October 2005 before being recalled at the end of the year. An injury crisis at Redditch’s Conference North rivals Hednesford Town meant Dann was afforded the opportunity of first team football at the non-league club. After playing just three games though, he returned to Walsall due to injury.

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Dann’s career at this stage did not look too promising but after signing a short term deal to stay at the Bescot Stadium, he got his chance in the Walsall first team during the 2006/07 campaign. It would prove to be the making of the player as he was an integral part of the side which helped the Saddlers to the League Two Championship. He was rewarded for his fine form with a new long term contract and he continued his good form in League One, helping Walsall establish themselves in the division.

By this time, he was attracting interest from bigger clubs and Coventry City paid a sizeable fee for Dann in the 2008 January transfer window. After helping City avoid relegation from the Championship, he was named captain for the following 2008/09 season. After helping the side finish 17th in the Championship, Dann was be on the move again after only a year and a half at the Ricoh Arena. Newly promoted Premier League side Birmingham City paid Coventry £3.5million for Dann in June 2009, instantly striking up an excellent partnership at the centre of defence with another new signing Roger Johnson helping them to finish 9th in the table. During the campaign they went a record 12 matches unbeaten, with plaudits crediting Dann and Johnson for Birmingham’s success in the top flight.

The second season has been more difficult for Birmingham but it didn’t stop Dann helping the Blues to the Carling Cup final. In the semi-final against West Ham however, he paid a heavy price with a torn hamstring, and an operation was needed which has kept him of action until the summer. Birmingham City rate him at £10million, but if the club are relegated, they will no doubt listen to offers for the player.

Read more of David's articles at Live4Liverpool