Blues abandon striker move

Blues boss Alex McLeish has ditched plans to sign Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras.

Birmingham had agreed a £2.5m fee with City for the Greek international. 

But McLeish has decided against signing another striker after already clinching deals for James McFadden and Mauro Zarate on loan from Al Sadd. 

Neil Danns has joined Crystal Palace for £850,000 and McLeish said he was looking to strenthen.

McLeish said: “If I can identify the right players I feel can take us forward, I won’t hesitate telling the board – and then it will be up to them. 

“They have certainly bared their teeth in terms of the backing when we have tried to go for players.”