Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has said that "talks are still ongoing" as he looks to sign Diego Fabbrini and Robert Tesche permanently.

The duo were a hit with the Blues during loan spells last season, with Watford's Fabbrini making five appearances in the final month of last season.

"The talks are still ongoing but that's out of our hands - all we can do is try to put something together that is attractive to Watford," Rowett told the club website on the Blues' pursuit of the Italian.

Rowett also said that they were trying to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Tesche, who scored twice in 12 appearances during a two-month loan stint at the end of last season.

"We want to have the likes of Diego and Robert Tesche because I think it lit up St Andrew's last season when we had those type of players," he added.

Birmingham's 2015-16 Championship season begins with a visit from Reading on Saturday, August 8.