Francis wants to keep Clarets target Adebola

The in-form striker is still formally on the City transfer list.

But his recent run of goals, including one against Burnley a week ago, means Francis doesn't want to see him go.

"At the moment I will not consider any offers we get for him," said the Blues boss.

"A couple of clubs are very interested in signing Dele but if an offer came in for him now, I couldn't let him go -- not at this particular moment."

However, the powers-that-be at Birmingham may see it slightly differently and according to sources close to the club would accept a £1.1 million bid for the 25-year-old former Crewe man, who has scored six times so far this term.

Burnley are understood to have offered £750,000 up front for Adebola and it remains to be seen whether manager Stan Ternent, who this week splashed out a club record £1 million on Ian Moore, will look to push through a deal by raising the stakes.

Adebola's physical presence and goal-scoring ability would make him a useful acquisition for the Clarets as they look to strengthen their squad and sustain a top-six challenge.

The powerful front man was a handful against Burnley last Saturday and his recent form has impressed Francis, who paid £1 million for him in February, 1998.

He added: "Dele has done very well for us since his setback in the summer, when his move to Las Palmas fell through. "The club concocted this story that he failed a medical, which was scandalously untrue.

"But it had a bad effect on Dele. His determination disappeared and he was very poor for us in the early part of the season.

"Slowly, he got his confidence and sense of well-being back, his form returned and now his general attitude is first-class."

That has restored him to a key role for promotion-chasing City.

But having spent £2.25 million on Fulham's Geoff Horsfield in the summer and with a £1.5 million move for on-loan Celtic forward Mark Burchill on the cards, Francis may have to balance the books.