Birmingham City Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Lee Clark

• Ground:St Andrew's
• Capacity:30016

Blues set for Zarate swoop

19 Jan 2008 - 15:37:26

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Birmingham City have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Argentinian starlet Mauro Zarate on loan.

The 20-year-old striker will join the St Andrew's outfit until the end of the season from Qatar club Al-Sadd.

Zarate has been linked with a move to several leading clubs across Europe after scoring the winner in the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in the summer.

"Al-Sadd has agreed terms of Zarate's loan move to the Premiership club of Birmingham City until the end of the current season with a possible permanent transfer thereafter," read a statement on their official website.

"No specific date is set for the departure to London and no such date will be fixed until after Al-Sadd's encounter against Q-League leader Al-Gharrafa on Friday.

"Al-Sadd management would then agree a final agreement with the English side including the date of Zarate's travel to the UK."

Meanwhile, the Blues continue to be linked with a move for out-of-favour Manchester City striker Giorgios Samaras.

On Friday, Birmingham completed the £5.75million signing of Scotland international forward James McFadden from Premier League rivals Everton.