Foster emerging as top Blues target

Goalkeeper Ben Foster has emerged as Birmingham's top summer transfer target after the club were left stunned by a striking snub.

On-loan Joe Hart looks set to return to Manchester City, after Shay Given suffered a shoulder injury which could see him miss the start of next season.

Now Manchester United shotstopper Foster, who has slipped behind Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak, is boss Alex McLeish's preferred choice.

A loan deal would be the most likely option, with Old Trafford chief Sir Alex Ferguson adamant £5million-rated Foster still has a future with the champions.

And McLeish will try to land a top goalkeeper should Blues miss outon extending Hart's loan deal.

The manager said: "It's an important position for us. We will either try to do a Joe Hart situation again, a loan, or will have to pay a few bob for someone.

"We have to make sure we get a keeper who gives us the stature Hart has this season."

But the Scot, who takes his team to Bolton in the final Premier League game of the season on Sunday, has suffered a shock blow in his race for new firepower after Cacau rejected a move.

The German was poised to join Blues from Stuttgart on a free transfer, declaring his wish to leave the Bundesliga after nine years.

But the 29-year-old had a change of heart despite high-level talks with Blues officials and has now signed a new three-year deal at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

The player was even shown around St Andrew's and the club's Wast Hills training ground three weeks ago and promised to make a decision soon after.

His representatives indicated he was excited by a new challenge, after 12 goals in the Bundesliga last season, but has opted to stay at Stuttgart.

Blues boss Alex McLeish has been keen to bolster his attack even since a failed bid for Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko in January.

Brazilian-born Cacau has five German caps and Champions League experience - having scored against Barcelona this season - with 61 goals in 176 appearances for Stuttgart.

McLeish also has decisions to make over the futures of out-of-contract strike duo Kevin Phillips and Garry O'Connor.