Birmingham City have struck a deal to sign Reda Khadra on loan after the attacker confirmed he wanted to leave Sheffield United.

Recruited on a season long basis from Brighton and Hove Albion, Khadra grew disillusioned with life in South Yorkshire after failing to break into United’s starting eleven.

Paul Heckingbottom told journalists ahead of his team’s FA Cup tie at Millwall that he would only allow the Germany under-21 international to depart unless it was possible to hire a replacement.#

Second in the Championship table, United had an option to purchase Khadra at the end of the campaign. But the youngster failed to reproduce the form he showed during a similar spell with Blackburn Rovers last term.

Reda Khadra of Sheffield Utd runs through Michal Helik of Huddersfield Town during the Sky Bet Championship match at Bramall Lane (Picture: Andrew Yates / Sportimage)

placeholder image — Reda Khadra of Sheffield Utd runs through Michal Helik of Huddersfield Town during the Sky Bet Championship match at Bramall Lane (Picture: Andrew Yates / Sportimage)

Khadra informed United he wanted to move on over Christmas, and was subsequently omitted from their squads for games against Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers.