Benitez leaves Blues

Birmingham have decided not to take up the option of signing striker Christian Benitez on a permanent basis.

Benitez has just completed a season-long loan at St Andrew's, scoring four times in 36 appearances.

The Ecuadorian will now return to parent club Santos Laguna in Mexico.

Birmingham decided against making the move permanent as they felt the £7 million asking price was too high.

McLeish told the Birmingham Mail: "We did have an agreement that the previous board put in place. Chucho (Benitez) did very well for us. I am sorry to lose him but the deal was just too rich for us.

"My task now is to find someone who can do a better job. I have got to try and find a player who can be even better than Chucho."

McLeish is set to revamp his squad this summer and has parted company with midfielder Gary McSheffrey plus defenders Franck Queudrue and Gregory Vignal.

Midfielder Lee Carsley had already signalled his intention to leave St Andrew's. But, as expected, McLeish is to offer a new deal to veteran striker Kevin Phillips and has also begun talks with full-back Stuart Parnaby over a new deal.

Phillips showed that he can still make an impact at the top level when used as a substitute.

McLeish confirmed: "We will look to make a new offer to Kevin and he has bought into the role we want him to play now. Like all players, he would want to play but I said last season that I saw him being more effective as an impact player and that remains the case."