Former Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton is looking to raid his former club to sign troubled young striker Nile Ranger for his new club Birmingham City. The midlands club are looking to bring in further strike power as Cameron Jerome looks to complete his move to Stoke City, and Ranger, signed on a free by the north east club in 2008 is available after falling down the pecking order at St James Park. Ranger's recent transgressions, including being photographed holding a replica gun and this weekend being arrested and questioned over a city center assault may have propelled his exit from Newcastle, but haven't dissuaded Hughton that the striker has enough to help his charge back to the Premiership. Blackpool had previously agreed a fee for the striker, thought to be £1m, but they have now turned their attentions to Sheffield United's Daniel Bogdanovic, leaving the route clear for former Spurs defender Hughton to bring in the striker he gave a debut to against West Brom during Newcastle's victorious Championship season. Hughton will now move quickly to secure Ranger's signature with the transfer window slamming shut at 11pm tonight.