Last Updated: Thu, 15 May 2008 14:18
Birmingham's drop into the Championship has seen a deal for Barcelona's Brazil international Edmilson fall through, the club says.
The 31-year-old was strongly linked with Newcastle when Sam Allardyce took over but summer knee surgery 12 months ago put paid to a move to Tyneside for the midfielder or centre-half.
Edmilson returned for Barca towards the end of last season and Blues co-owner David Sullivan has claimed he was set for St Andrews before relegation was confirmed on the final day.
However, Blues now have a back-up plan and are "80 per cent" sure of landing their man.
Sullivan told the Birmingham Mail: "We are very close to signing a player who has played 200 games for a team that has been in the top six/seven clubs in the Premier League."
He added: "We believe he's better than what we've got, and would be even if we were still in the Premier League. But, had we stayed in the Premier League, we wouldn't be trying to sign him.
"In that [midfield] position we had a top Brazilian international from a top club in Spain all lined up to come. But he wouldn't play in the Championship."