Alex McLeish ready for a hectic transfer week for Blues

Jan 21 2008 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ALEX McLeish was today bracing himself for a busy week's transfer window activity.

The Blues boss said he was looking at bringing in 'two or three' more players, and others would have to be shipped out.

Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate was expected to finalise his loan from AlSadd today.

He watched Saturday's defeat by Chelsea from the Main Stand director's box at St Andrew's.

McLeish was still weighing up whether to proceed with Manchester City's Georgios Samaras' £2.5 million transfer after now having talked to the Greek striker.

And Villa centre-half Gary Cahill remains on the agenda.

Moving through the St Andrew's exit door, Mat Sadler was set to join Watford for £1 million.

Wolves have had an offer rejected for the left-back, but Ipswich Town are no longer in the running.

Midfielder Neil Danns was on his way to Crystal Palace for £600,000.

"I'm trying to get one or two more," said McLeish. "I've got to enhance the midfield and enhance the back line.

"The centre-back position is a difficult one for me at the moment because we've got two guys there, two left-footers at that (Liam Ridgewell, Rafael Schmitz) and if one of them is injured then we may really have to shuffle the pack to a degree that I don't want to."

On Samaras, McLeish said: "We have had talks, there has been an agreement with Manchester City but I don't want to say anything on it at the moment until we sort out one or two other things."

"Some players will have to be leaving, that's football, the nature of the beast," McLeish added.

"I'm here to do a job very quickly. I don't get time. I'd love to have spent more time with the players who are leaving."