Birmingham City have now opened talks to sign Sam Gallagher from Blackburn Rovers on loan, according to a report from Football Insider.
The Blues are looking to add some goals to their side as they prepare for a relegation battle in the second half of the season and they are looking towards Gallagher to try and bring that to the side. The Blackburn striker’s contract runs out this summer but a deal could be done on loan until then.
New manager Tony Mowbray made the striker spot a priority upon taking charge at the club after he departed from Sunderland. The English forward has featured just seven times for his side this season, scoring on two occasions.
The former Southampton man previously spent time at Birmingham on loan from Blackburn in the 2017/18 season and scored six goals in 33 games throughout his spell at the club. Another loan switch to St Andrew’s is now a possibility as talks are underway.
Gallagher has been the subject of interest from other clubs within the league this season, with Ipswich Town reportedly having two offers rejected earlier on in the window for the player. There have been no other bids since then, but the Blues are now hoping they can succeed where Kieran McKenna’s side failed to get a deal over the line.
The English forward has found game time difficult this season, with Sammie Szmodics and Harry Leonard both being favoured instead of him. The Rovers striker has however named in the first eleven for the game today against Huddersfield Town, with 20-year-old Leonard starting on the bench.
Birmingham’s top scorer this season has been Jay Stansfield with seven goals, but after that, the highest-scoring striker in the team has been Scott Hogan with just two goals.
Their next game is against league leaders Leicester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup, but with the deal at the early stages, there are no indications that the Blackburn forward will be in the side.
Writer’s View
The Blues need another outlet for goals to stay in the division in the second half of the campaign, and despite his lack of game time this season, Gallagher is a player who knows where the net is. Mowbray will know what it takes to stay in the division and the fact he’s identified the 28-year-old means he believes he has what it takes to help them.
Wayne Rooney struggled to get the side firing, and the former Sunderland boss will be hoping he can succeed where the Manchester United legend failed.
