Birmingham City now want to sign an “outstanding” midfielder with experience at the highest level on a free transfer this summer, according to a recent report.
In preparation for their season back in the Championship, the Blues have been busy in the transfer market, adding nine new players to Chris Davies’ squad, with Kyogo Furuhashi their most expensive capture to date.
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However, their business appears to be far from finished as they remain interested in signing Kieran Dowell from Rangers. The attacking midfielder spent last season on loan at St Andrews, and the Blues are said to be keen on striking a permanent transfer. However, they face a fresh problem, and that is Rangers boss Russell Martin has been using Dowell in pre-season, after it was expected that he would be surplus to requirements on his return to Ibrox.
As they continue to look into a deal for Dowell, Birmingham are also interested in signing attacker Hwang Hee-Chan from Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. It is reported that Hwang is considered a top target, given his experience in the Premier League.
However, the £14 million fee Wolves would want plus the player’s wages mean a deal may be hard, and the Championship side are now turning their attention to alternative targets.
Champions League winner could join Blues in free signing
According to EFL Analysis, Birmingham City are among the teams from the EFL who are interested in signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer.
The 31-year-old, who has been capped 35 times by England, is leaving Turkish giants Besiktas, as they have decided to agree to a settlement on the final year of his contract. Oxlade-Chamberlain is now expected to head back to the UK, as he is in talks with a number of clubs over a possible transfer.
As well as Birmingham, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Sheffield United, Coventry City, Stoke City and former club Southampton have been made aware of his situation. North of the border, Rangers are also interested in a deal and are considering making an approach.
Apps
18
Starts
14
Goals
1
Touches per game
34.7
Passes per game (accuracy)
23.2 (85%)
Key passes per game
0.1
Interceptions per game
0.3
Tackles per game
0.9
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who won the Champions League back in 2019 with Liverpool, has been with Besiktas for two seasons, during which he has struggled for regular game time in the Süper Lig. He has played 38 games in total across the two league seasons and has scored a combined five goals.
His time in England was more successful, as he scored 20 goals in 235 Premier League games, and while he wasn’t always a regular at Liverpool, former boss Jürgen Klopp labelled the England international an “outstanding” player.
Klopp said: “Ox is an outstanding player, an outstanding player, was always and will always be.”