Mucho Chucho

Remember Emmanuel Olisadebe, the striker that never was?

In July 2002, following promotion to the Premier League, a £3.3 million fee was agreed with Panathinaikos for his transfer.

The Polish international flew into Birmingham and all looked set until he had a medical.

During the examination it was clear that Blues would be taking a big gamble if they proceeded.

The transfer was called off and Olisadebe then had a pop at Blues which in turn gave Steve Bruce the hump.

Bruce had tried to protect the player at first by talking around the reason why it had gone pear-shaped. But after Olisadebe's barbs, he slated him and revealed he not
only had a knee complaint, but a career-threatening back problem.

Fast forward to the present and Blues find themselves in another pickle concerning another signature striker identified to spearhead their return to the Premier
League: Christian Benitez.

A deal worth a potential and club record £9 million was agreed for the Ecuador ace. Yet it has not been plain sailing getting him on board.

His medical showed up a knee problem, something seriousness enough to stop Blues forging on with the transfer.

It came as a shock to them, as well as Benitez, his representatives and his club, Mexican outfit Santos Laguna.

None were aware of it previously and all parties have agreed that the deal needs to be redrafted.

Talks are taking place to find a satisfactory conclusion. There seems a willingness to compromise.

Benitez remains in the country and is desperate to join. From the Blues perspective, the manager and club are prepared to give him that chance.

Blues are hardly going to commit themselves to the vast outlay originally planned due to this change in circumstances, so it is likely a smaller downpayment will be made, and a 'get out' clause inserted into the new deal.

Blues haven't pulled the rug completely because Benitez's is rather an odd case.

In tests he has undergone - and there have been many - his knee has stood up fine.

He has played up to this point in his career without any pain or problems from it, and his condition has apparently been a long-standing one.

So if Blues can cover themselves, and lessen the financial risk, it makes sense to give Benitez a whirl.

Peter Ndlvou suffered the same fate when he was transferred from Coventry City in 1997. That £1.6 million deal was eventually done on a pay-as-you-play. He turned
out all right.

Olisadebe played on too, although he has hardly covered himself in glory in the days since he was on the verge of joining Blues. He is now plying his trade in China.

Others have defied what would be considered accepted medical opinion. Stern John, for example, has a chronic knee condition which should really have put paid to him at Blues.

Only time will tell whether Benitez turns out to be a hit, miss or maybe.