Blues chief ends pursuit of duo

12 August 2010 13:53
irmingham boss Alex McLeish has admitted defeat in his bid to sign AZ Alkmaar's Moussa Dembele and will not be bringing in Mauro Camoranesi.[LNB] But the former Scotland boss is optimistic of bringing in new blood in the next week.[LNB]Striker Dembele appeared favourite to move to St Andrew's in a £5million deal despite reported interest from West Ham and West Brom.[LNB]But McLeish said: "Dembele has got other options and he is choosing another option. His representative had told me that.[LNB]"It is a blow because we have worked hard on that one - but that's life."[LNB]As regards Juventus veteran Camoranesi, McLeish said: "I have always been a big admirer but negotiations became protracted and I had a further think.[LNB]"I decided it was not quite the way forward for Birmingham at this particular time."[LNB]McLeish, who has also been linked with Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia, added: "We are looking at one or two things and I'm confident we will have players in by the second game of the season rather than the first one at Sunderland."[LNB]Keeper Ben Foster is expected to be fit to face the Black Cats on Saturday despite suffering a back spasm which forced his withdrawal from the England squad to face Hungary.

Source: Team_Talk