Birmingham chief Alex McLeish will decide over the weekend whether to step up his bid to sign Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras.

The Midlands club are understood to be close to agreeing a fee - believed to be in the region of £2.5 million - for the Greek international who has had few opportunities since the arrival of Sven-Goran Eriksson.

McLeish has already brought in Everton frontrunner James McFadden for an initial £5million with Al-Sadd forward Mauro Zarate poised to join on loan next week.

Samaras joined Manchester City for £6 million in the 2006 January transfer window from Heerenveen but has had only a limited impact.

McLeish said: "I don't like to talk about any possible deals until they are completed but there is an interest in Samaras."