Pandiani struggled to adapt - Sullivan

Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan admitted Walter Pandiani had struggled to adapt to Premiership football, with the striker now prepared to complete a move back to Spain.

Espanyol president Daniel Sanchez Llibre is claiming a move to bring Pandiani to his club is “practically a done deal”.

Pandiani spent an initial successful loan spell with City in the second half of last season before signing a three-year deal but during the current campaign has netted only two Premiership goals.

Sullivan said: “Walter is not a bad player and he did well recently against Manchester United and Chelsea which was commendable considering he knew we were looking to move him back to Spain.

“You’ve got to take your hat off to his commitment towards the club and Walter has scored some important goals for us but he hasn’t quite fired as we thought he might and sometimes a change of environment does everyone good.

“It’s not what any of us wanted but he has just not been able to adapt to the game in England as we expected.”

Pandiani had last week rejected the chance to join Real Mallorca and spelt out his desire to remain at St Andrews.

But the arrival of Chris Sutton from Celtic and the possible capture of Charlton's Jason Euell in the next few days – to add to the current strikers Emile Heskey and Mikael Forssell – will leave the Uruguayan well down the pecking order.