McLeish: Zarate is coveted

Alex McLeish believes that Mauro Zarate is going to be heading for a big club this summer after admitting other sides were interested in the player in January. Al-Saad are looking for £20 million to allow the player to leave.

McLeish said: "Mauro is going to be an attractive proposition to Premier League clubs, I know he is. They were expressing an interest before we got him in January.

"I would like to thank him for his spell here and he made an impact.

"It was a little bit of a risk bringing him in from a league where you can get away with things, be lazy and still look like a world-class star, coming into the hurly-burly of the Premier League.

"So I applaud his spirit, his heart and he will be a good asset to one of the big clubs - if not here then abroad.

"If he went into a team who are a little bit technically more proficient than us - and I mean that with no disrespect to our boys - he would be even better.

"He's a real talent and it's just a shame that our situation counted against us. I know he's enjoyed being here and living in Birmingham. Now we have to move on."