Source: SKY_Sports
No immediate loan for Traore
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has been forced to suspend his attempts to sign Arsenal left-back Armand Traore on loan.
Traore has been a McLeish target for a number of weeks, but Arsene Wenger has decided not to let the French defender leave until at least the end of the summer transfer window.
The former Rangers boss will now try and find a different solution to his problem at left-back, although he did not rule out enquiring about Traore again should he eventually become available.
"I've had a response from Arsene and it is not positive because he is going to keep Traore in the meantime and won't make a decision on him until the end of the transfer window," McLeish said.
"I have to put the feelers out now and try and bring a left-back in because I have been playing right-footed people there, like Stuart Parnaby and Jared Wilson, which is not fair.
Uncertain"Will I go back in for Traore? I'm not saying I won't go back to him. It is possible but depends what happens between now and the end of August."
McLeish is keen to bolster his newly-promoted squad before the start of the Premier League season, with Sporting Dijon midfielder Michel also on the Scotsman's radar.
The Blues boss did not hide his desire to bid for the Spanish player, but accepted that the Birmingham board may not be able to provide the required cash for any potential deal.
He added: "I've watched the guy. I don't think that's any secret. But there is nothing cast in stone with anybody yet.
"It's not cut and dried that the board will give me money for that deal but we do need an injection of players in certain positions."
