Dynamo Kiev president Igor Surkis has confirmed that he would not stand in Andriy Shevchenko's way, should the Chelsea flop favour a return to the Premier League with Birmingham City.

According to reports which began to circulate on Tuesday, Birmingham's new owner Carson Yeung has made 'Sheva' his No.1 January target, keen to tap into the Ukranian star's sizeable Chinese profile.

The Hong-Kong based businessman completed an £80million takeover of the West Midlands club last month and has promised Blues boss Alex McLeish up to £40million to splash out on new players in the January transfer window.

Shevchenko, 33, was for a time one of the most revered strikers in the world during his first spell at AC Milan, and his one-time Serie A prolificacy means that he is already a household name in upcoming football markets such as Asia.

And Sheva has begun to rediscover that form in his second spell at home town club Dynamo Kiev, with three goals in his last seven league appearances, as well as the opener in their 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan on Wednesday night.

Yeung sees his encouraging displays for the Ukraine national side, coupled with his marketability in the Far East as a perfect combination, and Dynamo would not prevent his sale, although Surkis believes their striker will remain loyal.

"I haven't received an offer, but, for me, it's pleasant that Andriy is in demand," he is quoted as saying be the Daily Mail.

"Shevchenko is reborn, becoming as he was before leaving for Milan (in 1999). His eye for goal and speed will return.

"As for offers? It doesn't just depend on me, but also on Andriy. In the summer he made a patriotic decision, rejecting offers from Italy, Spain and Turkey. I don't think he wants anything to change."

Shevchenko's original move to the Premier League with Chelsea was largely influenced the lure moving to an English-speaking environment with his American wife and children in mind, so he might fancy a return.