On Monday he agreed a loan move to St Andrews for the rest of the season, but they've decided to wait and see what happens with his drink-driving case. Pennant is alleged to have crashed his car into a lamppost in Aylesbury at the weekend, an offence the seriousness of which is heightened by the fact that he's serving a driving ban following a similar incident while on loan at Leeds last February.

A statement from Birmingham reads, "Whilst Birmingham City wants to loan Jermaine Pennant and both Arsenal Football Club and the player wish this to happen, Jermaine Pennant's present circumstances are such that a loan agreement cannot be signed at the present time. Birmingham City Football Club hopes that matters can be concluded satisfactorily before the transfer window closes, and the position should become clearer over the next few days."

The trouble is, the transfer window closes at the end of January, but he's been bailed to appear before Aylesbury magistrates on Tuesday, which is the 1st of February.