Birmingham City are preparing for a pivotal January transfer window as they look to address shortcomings and bolster their squad for the final stretch of the Championship season.
The league is tightly packed, with only eight points separating third-place Preston North End from 16th-place West Bromwich Albion. This competitive landscape means many clubs, including Birmingham City, still believe in their promotion ambitions after Christmas. However, to capitalize on this opportunity, Blues must act decisively to rectify issues from a busy summer window that saw 12 new signings arrive, though only five featured in the recent 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic.
Manager Chris Davies and Director of Football Craig Gardner have a clear priority: resolve the futures of two loan players who haven’t made the impact hoped for. Eiran Cashin and Lewis Koumas have struggled for game time, and the club anticipates recalls, especially with Brighton unlikely to let a £9 million asset sit on the bench for months. Should Cashin and Koumas return, it will free up valuable space within the loan quota, which currently limits the club to five loan players in matchday squads.
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One likely departure could be striker Lyndon Dykes, who has found regular starts hard to come by, with only two league starts and limited substitute appearances this season. Davies acknowledges Dykes’ desire for game time, especially with Scotland’s World Cup campaign looming, and expresses a willingness to support any move that benefits all parties.
On the other hand, Alfons Sampsted may see more opportunities, particularly with Bright Osayi-Samuel away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Yet, his chances may diminish when squad members return in the New Year. Meanwhile, Kanya Fujimoto faces limited opportunities and may seek an exit, especially given Blues’ ongoing struggles to fill the creative number 10 role.
Strengthening the spine of the team is essential. With Cashin returning to Brighton, Blues should target a new center-back, ideally a left-footed player who can complement Christoph Klarer and provide competition for Phil Neumann. Midfield reinforcement is also needed. Current technicians like Tommy Doyle and Paik Seung-ho have finesse but lack the physical presence required in the Championship’s demanding away fixtures.
Most crucially, a new striker is essential, whether or not Dykes departs. Alternatively, signing a creative number 10 could unlock forwards like Jay Stansfield to play more centrally, but additional attacking options remain imperative.
Several other decisions loom: Will Lee Buchanan regain fitness in time to reduce the need for a new left-back? If Koumas leaves, will Scott Wright be brought in? And will midfielder Marc Leonard seek more regular playtime elsewhere?
Overall, this January window is set to be an active period for Birmingham City as they fine-tune the squad and push for a successful second half of the season.