Birmingham City have been actively searching across Europe this summer for a new creative number 10 to bolster their attacking options.
Recently, Spanish playmaker Cesar Gelabert, currently at Sporting Gijon, was linked with a move to Blues. However, sources from BirminghamLive indicate that the early interest in Gelabert has not progressed further.
Similarly, Joe Gelhardt had been on Birmingham’s radar, but Hull City, newly promoted to the Premier League, secured his services on a permanent basis after two loan spells.
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With these developments, manager Chris Davies and the club’s recruitment team are back to exploring other possibilities.
Davies has started Paik Sueng-ho in the attacking midfield role during the first two games of the season. Nonetheless, interest in players like Gelhardt suggests the club seeks a more attack-focused profile for this position.
In the previous Championship season, Davies favoured deploying a second striker over a third midfielder, and current targets appear to lean towards players with strong offensive qualities. For greater tactical flexibility, Paik and Max Bird provide options for midfield roles behind the striker when required.
When asked about his preference for a more attacking midfielder, Davies stated: “There’s a time and a place for it. The danger when you do that is unless they are really able to participate in their midfield duties, you can become a little bit 4-2-4ish and that’s a concern for me. Sometimes we didn’t get to grips with that well enough last season. You can see what I’ve looked at in the last few weeks with Paik and I think it might be more horses for courses. What’s the team we’re up against? What do we need?”
Players combining midfield capability with attacking prowess exist but tend to be costly, especially at this late stage in the transfer window.
Here are some Championship players who could fit Birmingham’s requirements:
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Anis Mehmeti: The club missed an opportunity in January when Mehmeti was available for approximately £3 million from Bristol City. Ipswich Town signed him, where he contributed notably to their promotion campaign with 17 goal involvements. His position at Ipswich remains to be fully defined in the Premier League, and should a chance arise, returning Mehmeti to the Championship could be beneficial.
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Callum O’Hare: Although an ex-Aston Villa player, O’Hare has a familial connection to the Blues and Sheffield United’s midfielder has a consistent history of contributing goals and assists-reaching totals of 8 goals and 5 assists last season. At 28, he is entering his prime, yet a transfer would likely require a considerable fee given his two years remaining on contract.
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Todd Cantwell: Known to Championship followers, Cantwell has vast experience with 152 appearances in the league and Premier League exposure. Having won the Championship with Norwich and played a role in Bournemouth’s promotion, Cantwell, also 28, added 5 goals and 3 assists for Blackburn Rovers last season despite the team’s struggles.
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Sonny Carey: Carey impressed Charlton Athletic after joining from Blackpool, scored eight goals last season, displaying running power and a strong passing range. At 25, his performances attract attention, though his assist numbers and chance creation might require further progress before a move is likely.
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Bae Jun-ho: Linked with moves away from Stoke City, the South Korean midfielder boasts 19 goal contributions over three Championship seasons. At 23, he remains a promising yet somewhat inconsistent talent, representing a potential risk and reward scenario.
Birmingham City appear focused on acquiring players capable of making an immediate impact as the transfer window approaches its deadline, balancing tactical flexibility with attacking creativity.