Birmingham City are aiming to obliterate the League One transfer record with a bid for Fulham forward Jay Stansfield, according to The Telegraph’s John Percy on X.
The Blues are reportedly willing to spend up to £10 million on Stansfield who spent last season on loan at the club, wanting to bring him back permanently this time around. The former Exeter City loanee proved to be a rare bright spark in what was a poor 2023-24 Championship season for the Midlands outfit, who were relegated from the division in a season which featured six different managers, after flirting with the drop for several years. The loanee scored 13 times over the course of the season and was a popular figure at the club, and they want him back in the side this season.
Chris Davies’ side have already broken the division’s transfer record twice this season as they look to gain immediate promotion back to the second tier and appear willing to spend whatever it takes to achieve it. Should Stansfield arrive, it would almost double the current highest fee, which Birmingham recorded when bringing in defender Christoph Klarer from German side Darmstadt.
Owner Tom Wagner has made no secret of his willingness to spend this summer, and the club’s ownership group which includes NFL legend Tom Brady are backing their manager with unprecedented funds. They have spent in the region of £17 million on fifteen players this summer, practically overhauling the squad they got relegated with as they look to change their fortunes.
After all the upheaval it’s been a decent start to the season for the Blues, who lie in the play-off spots unbeaten after three games. They are the overwhelming favourites for the division and the title looks to be the aim, and if they pull this deal off it will be hard to look past them achieving it.
Writer’s View
This is a ridiculous deal; it wouldn’t surprise if Stansfield moves to Birmingham but the fee involved is preposterous. The club have made no secret of their spending powers but whether the player is worth this much is debatable. All this fee will do is increase pressure on player and club alike with Birmingham expected to walk League One having spent on levels never seen before. There’s also the financial element as spending this much is massively risky and demands immediate results to make it worthwhile. If the deal works and the club get promoted it will be worth it, otherwise it may come back to bite them.
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