Fulham has had a bid for Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome rejected by the npower Championship club, Craven Cottage manager Martin Jol has confirmed.
Jol revealed he did not think the Barclays Premier League club would increase its offer, understood to be around £3million.
"We made a bid we thought was realistic,'' said Jol.
The Fulham manager also revealed England striker Bobby Zamora had broken his hand in the 3-0 Europa League win over NSI Runavik last week.
"He broke his hand the other day,'' explained Jol and added that was one of the reasons Fulham made their bid for Jerome.
Jol also said he expected Zamora to be available to play in the return leg on Thursday.
Jerome, 24, was on Stoke's radar earlier this summer when they made a double bid for him and prized centre-back Scott Dann, which was also rebuffed by Blues.
City's hierarchy are believed to be willing to consider selling Jerome but only if the price is right, with a more significant bid needed to tempt them to part with his services.
That could force the hand of Potters boss Tony Pulis and other Barclays Premier League sides, including Bolton, reported to be interested in the pacy frontman.
Jol currently has Zamora, Andrew Johnson, Mousa Dembele and midfielder-turned-forward Clint Dempsey at his disposal in attack and is clearly keen to add to his ranks.
Jerome is one of a handful of players at St Andrew's whose futures still remain up in the air ahead of the August 31 transfer deadline.
Dann, Liam Ridgewell and Nikola Zigic have also been linked with moves away from Birmingham, who are working under tough financial constraints following May's relegation to the npower Championship.
Craig Gardner, Roger Johnson and Barry Ferguson have already been sold, Ben Foster has been loaned to neighbours West Brom on a season-long deal while the likes of Sebastian Larsson, Lee Bowyer and Kevin Phillips were all released.
Jerome could possibly be the next to join that list should Blues' valuation be matched.
The former England Under-21 international signed for the midlands club from Cardiff for an initial fee of #3million in the summer of 2006 and has scored 41 goals in 201 appearances during his five years in the second city.
However, he only managed a total of three league goals in 34 outings for the club last term.
Jerome signed a new five-year deal with Birmingham in July 2009.
