Birmingham City have been very active in the transfer market so far and are currently looking towards the Premier League to bolster their midfield but face stiff competition from teams in League One for a key target.
The Blues have already completed the signing of four players since the summer window opened last month. While League One top goalscorer Alfie May’s arrival from Charlton Athletic for £775,000 has arguably been the biggest transfer in England’s third tier to date, it isn’t the most expensive acquisition that the West Midlands outfit have made.
Chris Davies’ side completed the signing of winger Emil Hansson from Dutch club Heracles Almelo for a reported £1.5 million, while the new head coach has also overhauled his goalkeeping department by bringing in Ryan Allsop from Hull City and Bailey Peacock-Farrell from Burnley.
One area that hasn’t been improved thus far in the transfer window is the midfield department. It has been widely reported over the past few months that there are a number of clubs in Europe, namely Europa League champions Atalanta, who are looking to sign rising star Jordan James this summer, while Juninho Bacuna is also nearing an exit to Turkish side Sivasspor. Furthermore, Ivan Sunjic left the club two weeks ago as a free agent.
With this in mind, Davies is looking to use the club’s supposedly hefty budget this summer to strengthen his side’s fleeting depth in the middle of the park. It was revealed last month that Birmingham City were one of several teams in the EFL who were keeping tabs on Marc Leonard’s situation at Brighton and Hove Albion. The Athletic claimed that Wrexham and Championship side Oxford United had joined the Blues in their pursuit of the 22-year-old and that all three clubs have held talks with the Seagulls over a possible deal.
However, The Athletic released another report on Friday evening, stating that fellow League One clubs Huddersfield Town and Barnsley have now registered interest in the former Northampton Town loanee and that Brighton are willing to sell him permanently this summer.
Writer’s View
Leonard has been one of the most wanted men in this transfer window across the second and third tiers of English football following his successful loan spell at Sixfields last season where he scored five goals and recorded six assists in 48 appearances for the Cobblers in the middle of the park.
But, despite this extensive interest, the Scottish starlet has still yet to find a new home. Nevertheless, with a lowly market value of merely £380,000, as per Transfermarkt, Birmingham City would be missing a trick by not adding him to their midfield department, particularly due to his experience in League One, although the Blues face a tough battle to fend off the likes of Portsmouth, Derby County, Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, Barnsley and Huddersfield for the young talent.
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