Blues fail to land Traore

Birmingham City have failed in their bid to bring in Arsenal defender Armand Traore on loan.

The 19-year-old left-back was wanted by Alex McLeish but his counterpart Arsene Wenger does not want to let the youngster go until he knows how his own side will be made up.

‘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,’ revealed McLeish.

‘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.

‘Will I go back in for Traore? I’m not saying I won’t go back to him. It is possible, but it depends what happens between now and the end of August.’