Town boss Paul Jewell says St Etienne midfielder Guirane N’Daw will undergo a medical this afternoon and is likely to complete a season-long loan move to the Blues by tomorrow.
Jewell said: "He came here yesterday and I spoke to him this morning, his agents are down the ground with Simon Clegg.
"As far as I’m aware, everything is agreed with St Etienne for him to come on loan for the season and he’s having a medical this afternoon.
"That doesn’t mean he’s signed but we’re very hopeful and by this time tomorrow everything will be done and dusted. Even if it is, I don’t think he’ll be available for Saturday [due to international clearance].
"It’s an area of the team where we are light, we are small, set plays can find us out at times. So, we need to add a bit of strength and power to the squad.
"Whoever comes in, it doesn’t mean they go straight into the team, a place in the team has to be earned.”
He says N'Daw has been on his radar for some time: "I spoke to [former Birmingham manager] Chris Hughton about him in the summer. He’s one we’ve been tracking for a while. He speaks very highly of him, he’s a Senegalese international.
"I think when he was in their team their results were strong. I remember watching him a match against West Ham when he got injured but was outstanding up to then.
"He never played against us as he was injured and because he’d just come back from the African Nations Cup. He’s a good player, he’s strong and powerful.”
While the 28-year-old can play at centre-half, Jewell views him very much as an additional midfield option: "He can play there, but we see him as a midfield player. We’ve got some good midfield players here, we want to add competition and help the group.”
Meanwhile, Jewell says he has still heard nothing new from Aston Villa regarding left-back Aaron Cresswell.
The Blues boss refused to be drawn on continuing speculation regarding a loan move for Reading striker Simon Church.
He also confirmed that Cameroonian trialist Yann Songo’o will not be offered a contract having been at the club for two weeks and having played for the U21s at Swansea on Monday.