Birmingham City head coach Chris Davies is keen to keep hold of star attacker Siriki Dembele this summer despite interest from clubs in the Championship, according to the latest reports.
The Blues have splashed the cash already in this transfer window. Only Premier League promotion hopefuls Leeds United and Burnley have spent more money since the market opened back in June as the West Midlands outfit look to bounce straight back to the second tier following last season’s dismal relegation to League One.
Davies’ side have already spent around £10 million this summer and this figure looks to be set to continue to rise after The Telegraph recently revealed that Birmingham are the frontrunners to sign Fulham centre-forward Jay Stansfield after his successful loan spell at St. Andrew’s in the previous campaign in which he bagged 13 goals and registered three assists in 47 appearances. Furthermore, the outlet are claiming that the third-division title favourites are the frontrunners to acquire the 21-year-old’s signature for around £6 million which would take their total gross spending to £16 million.
As a result, the club may need to sell certain players before the transfer window closes at the end of this month. The Birmingham World have released a report stating that Blackburn Rovers and several other unnamed Championship sides are interested in signing Dembele. Additionally, the publication are claiming that the Lancashire club have contacted Birmingham City over the possibility of striking up a deal for the 27-year-old.
Moreover, the Birmingham World have declared that Davies has been left impressed by Dembele’s work rate in pre-season so far, which was one of the primary concerns from some of his predecessors last season, and that the new man in the dugout is willing to keep hold of the forward ahead of the forthcoming campaign.
Writer’s View
It’s not surprising that Blackburn Rovers are looking for a frontman with experience in the Championship, having recently signed Yuki Ohashi and Makhtar Gueye as replacements for Sammie Szmodics, who is set to leave, and Sam Gallagher, who has already left Ewood Park. Neither of the two new arrivals have any prior experience in English football which is a risk heading into the new season.
What is surprising is that Davies wants to retain his services in the first-team squad after what was a campaign of subpar performances from Dembele last term in which he scored merely six goals in 37 appearances in a struggling side. He has just two years remaining on his current deal with the club, meaning Birmingham City may be able to acquire a decent sum for the player which would be beneficial this summer.
