Newly relegated League One side Birmingham City are keen to sign Liverpool defender Owen Beck on loan, according to journalist Darren Witcoop on X.
The Blues are said to be keen on the Wales under-21 international as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of the new season. Any deal, however, depends on the fate of current Birmingham defender Emmanuel Longelo, who recently saw a proposed move to fellow League One side Barnsley break down. The St Andrews’ side are only likely to pursue a deal for Beck if Longelo leaves, with the 23-year-old attracting considerable interest.
21-year-old Beck has been made available for loan by his parent club ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, being behind the likes of Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas in the pecking order at Anfield. A loan move is therefore likely, with Birmingham a contender for Beck’s signature.
This wouldn’t be the youngster’s first temporary stint away from Merseyside, having represented Birmingham’s division rivals Bolton Wanderers and Scottish club Dundee. These were only brief spells, with Beck having played only nine times in Lancashire, as well as making three appearances for Liverpool’s senior side.
If Beck moves, and Longelo departs the club, the Welshman would become the third player capable of playing at left-back in the Midlands outfit’s squad. The Wrexham-born defender would have a fight on his hands competing for position with Lee Buchanan and Alex Cochrane, the latter of whom is a new signing at the club, having joined from Scottish side Hearts this summer.
It’s been a busy summer for Birmingham as they look to rebuild their squad to chase automatic promotion, and getting Beck on loan would further outline their ambitions. Owner Tom Wagner has given new manager Chris Davies funds never seen in the third tier before, with the likes of Alfie May and Bailey Peacock-Farrell all joining the club, who many are tipping as favourites to go up. Signing Beck would only strengthen that feeling as the Blues try to meet the expectations of immediate promotion back to the Championship this season.
Writer’s View
This is another deal that shows how seriously Birmingham are taking this season. Beck would likely not be a starter if he signs, but having someone of his quality as second, or even third, choice left-back shows the squad Birmingham have and their intent to achieve nothing but automatic promotion. For Beck, the move would get him more senior football under his belt at a highly ambitious club, so while he may not play every game it would still be a valuable move.
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