Robbie Keane

Birmingham City pulled the plug on Robbie Keane’s transfer as it would have cost around £18 million.

The total financial package, factoring in wages of around £65,000-a-week over the length of a likely contract, was too much for the board.

Despite agreeing a fee with Spurs of £4 million, rising to £6 million, Blues got cold feet.

Such an outlay on a near 31-year-old was deemed ‘not in the best financial interests of the club’, said acting chairman Peter Pannu.

And coming when Villa - who are also in Premier League relegation trouble and struggling for goals - showed such ambition by launching a stunning £18 million move for Sunderland’s Darren Bent, the contrast between the clubs' approach to danger couldn’t be starker and the effect potentially demoralising.

Blues board, though, would counter that they do simply not want to jeopardise the club's future at a time when resources are stretched, with parent company Birmingham International Holdings actively seeking to raise extra funds to help with Carson Yeung's long term plan of stability and growth.

When the news broke that Blues had reached accord with Spurs on Friday night, club sources were quick to stress that nothing was cut and dried at all.

The board wanted to consider carefully all facets of the deal, and were concerned from the outset about splashing out so much, even though they then managed to knock Spurs asking price down from £9 million.