After an excellent week of results for the club, Birmingham City are edging closer to the overseas sale of central defender Kevin Long, according to the latest reports.
The Republic of Ireland defender moved to St. Andrew’s just over a year ago, ending a 13-year-long stay with the Clarets at Turf Moor. However, Long became an instrumental figure in John Eustace’s defence as the side maintained their status in England’s second tier last season.
Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria – Ireland retake the lead with Kevin Long scoring his first ever senior international goal. #rtesoccer #irlbul pic.twitter.com/SphWcCUV77
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 10, 2019
Nevertheless, the centre-half has had very limited game-time this term after falling out of favour under former head coach Wayne Rooney, which was spurred on by a calf injury he sustained back in November. Meanwhile, the experienced defender regained a place in the team under Tony Mowbray but hasn’t featured since the side’s 2-0 defeat away at Sheffield Wednesday at the start of the month.
Birmingham City picked up back-to-back wins in the Championship over the past five days as Mowbray managed to get one over on his former clubs Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland. Long was not named in the squad for either game.
Birmingham Live have now revealed that the Blues are close to completing the sale of Long which would see the 33-year-old join MLS outfit Toronto FC, based in Canada. The outlet are claiming that a deal will be finalised at some stage next week.
The former Accrington Stanley and Barnsley loanee is out of contract with the West Midlands outfit at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, but since the transfer window is open until April for MLS teams, the deal can be completed as soon as possible.
It is unclear how much Birmingham could get for the defender, although he currently has a market value of £250,000, as per Transfermarkt.
Writer’s View
This deal makes sense for Birmingham City. The club won’t get any money at the end of the season for Long once his contract expires so it’s best to sell him now before the veteran walks for free in four months’ time.
However, the Blues will have lost a player who provides adequate cover at the back which is the only downside of his sale, particularly since the English transfer window has closed and Mowbray won’t be able to replace him unless he signs a free agent.
