McLeish had been keen on signing the Greek international striker but having now signed two strikers in James McFadden and Mauro Zarate the Blues boss has said that he wants to concentrate on strengthening the squad in other areas.
"I cannot do that deal just now. We have a lot of strikers at the club and I have to concentrate on another couple of positions. Time has just run on with the Samaras one," McLeish has told the Birmingham Mail.
"I had identified the big guy as a target five or six weeks ago and if I could have done it then, it would have been different. But things have dragged on and other people became available.
"McFadden became available, Zarate was an unexpected opportunity, therefore it created a problem with the Samaras one. So it's unlikely."