Birmingham City have received a crucial transfer update ahead of the January window closing at the end of the month after Fulham confirmed that loanee Jay Stansfield will not be recalled.
Marco Silva’s side opted against bringing the former Exeter City player back to their senior squad, meaning that the forward will remain at St. Andrew’s for the rest of the season.
Stansfield is The Blues’ top scorer this season, with nine goals in 28 games since arriving in the summer. The 21-year-old’s form has picked up in recent weeks, scoring two goals and assisting once in their last two games against Stoke City and Hull City.
His form since arriving in Birmingham has found him many suitors, including new boss Tony Mowbray, who took over the club following the sacking of Wayne Rooney at the start of the month.
Speaking following the victory over The Potters in the Championship last Saturday, the 60-year-old confirmed he would be interested in making the striker’s loan a permanent deal in the future.
He said to Birmingham Live: “I talk to him most days, he is really enjoying his football and he’s scoring goals. Would he want to go back and get 10 minutes here and there, and sit on the bench? In my opinion, a young player should want to play, and want to score, and want to showcase his talent.
Stansfield signed a new four-year deal with The Cottagers following his return from Exeter last year, where he scored nine goals in 39 games for the club his father played for in League One.
Birmingham City are currently in 20th place in the second tier, on 32 points. Blues travel away to runaway leaders Leicester City on Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Writer’s View
The news that Jay Stansfield will remain at St Andrew’s for the rest of the season is probably the biggest player news they will receive this window. The 21-year-old may not be in double-digit numbers for goals this season, but with the managerial struggles the club have faced this season, it is understandable why he hasn’t reached that milestone yet. He is level with Juninho Bacuna for combined goals and assists this season with 10.
Tony Mowbray has come in and been able to make the changes he wants to steer the club away from a relegation scrap. He has already brought in Andre Dozzell from Queens Park Rangers, and looks set to add a second midfielder in South Korean international Paik Seung-ho. Birmingham City should be safe from any real danger for the rest of the season with the former Sunderland boss at the helm.
1st Class Honours in Multimedia Journalism at Salford University. Writing mainly about League Two.
