Twist in Blues' Fabrizio Miccoli hunt

Birmingham's hunt for Fabrizio Miccoli has taken a dramatic twist with the striker ready to demand a move away from Italian club Palermo.

The pint-sized forward is set to sit down with officials at the Stadio Renzo Barbera to try to force a switch to Blues.

Palermo have rejected Blues' first offer of £4million and insisted the player was not for sale, but conceded they would bow to his wishes should he want to leave.

The 30-year-old's camp have reportedly told the St Andrew's hierarchy they are ready to push through a move, such is his desire to play in the Premier League.

Miccoli scored 19 goals last season as Palermo finished fifth in Serie A – just missing out on a Champions League spot.

Boss Alex McLeish is believed to be a long-term admirer of the Italian international, having tracked him last season, in wanting to form a little and large partnership with £6million Serbian giant Nikola Zigic.

The Italian is 5ft 6in tall and would replace Christian Benitez, after McLeish opted not to make the Ecuadorian's loan move permanent.

Miccoli has scored 40 goals in 86 league games for Palermo and has been capped 10 times by Italy, scoring twice.

But the former Juventus and Fiorentina ace suffered a knee injury at the end of last term, but had successful surgery to repair torn ligament and should be fit for the start of next season although any late complications could scupper a deal.

McLeish has already splashed out on 6ft 8in Zigic, but with owner Carson Yeung's backing is expected to spend big this summer.

The manager wants more proven players, after gambling with the untried Scott Dann and Roger Johnson last season who excelled in their first season in the top flight.

And attacker James McFadden isn't worried about his future, after expressing a desire to stay at St Andrew's.

The 27-year-old has a year left on his contract, although there is an option of a two-year extension.

He said: "I'd like to get it sorted, but I am in no rush. There is not a lot of progress but I am not worried.

"I'll wait and see what happens."