Arsene Wenger has dashed Birmingham's hopes of signing Arsenal left-back Armand Traore on loan in time for the opening Barclays Premier League game of the season at Manchester United.
Blues boss Alex McLeish has been tracking Traore for several weeks in the hope Wenger would allow him to move to St Andrew`s.
But Wenger will not decide whether or not to allow Traore to leave until the end of the August transfer window.
McLeish will now pursue other options although he may renew his interest in Traore at the end of the month if he is available.
He said: "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.
"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 depends what happens between now and the end of August."
