Benitez Heads List Of Players Released

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has decided not to sign striker Christian Benitez on a permanent basis.

Benitez has been with Blues for the whole season, but has only managed four goals in 36 appearances. And with that sort of return, Birmingham thought the asking price of £7 million was just too much.

The Ecuadorian will now return to parent club Santos Laguna in Mexico.

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, McLeish said: ‘We did have an agreement that the previous board put in place. Chucho (Benitez) did very well for us. I am sorry to lose him but the deal was just too rich for us.

‘My task now is to find someone who can do a better job. I have got to try and find a player who can be even better than Chucho.’

McLeish is set to revamp his squad this summer and has parted company with midfielder Gary McSheffrey plus defenders Franck Queudrue and Gregory Vignal.