Birmingham City are currently one of the Championship’s most visible clubs, with plenty of on- and off-pitch activity taking place at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
On the pitch, Chris Davies and his team have undoubtedly answered their critics, particularly at home, where they recently defeated Portsmouth, Millwall, Norwich City, and Watford.
Blues have risen to eighth in the table ahead of the forthcoming round of Championship fixtures, with 28 points from the first 18 games.
It’s been a memorable two weeks at St. Andrew’s as well, with plans for the new ‘Powerhouse’ stadium released on Thursday, November 20th, before the club celebrated its 150th anniversary two days later against the aforementioned Canaries.
Plenty of news is expected to be generated in the coming weeks as we approach the season-defining Christmas and New Year period, which coincides with the start of the winter transfer window ahead of the second half of the season.
That being said, Football League World has compiled a list of all the big talking points in these sections of the Second City as Birmingham prepares for their forthcoming match against Southampton at St Mary’s.
Blackburn Rovers initiate talks with Birmingham City over a permanent Taylor Gardner-Hickman transfer.
According to Birmingham Live, Blues’ divisional rivals, Blackburn Rovers, have began to look into the potential of signing their current loanee, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, permanently.
The 23-year-old has been the subject of numerous recent transfers, having joined Birmingham on an initial loan from Bristol City in the summer of 2024 ahead of the club’s record-breaking League One season, before his deal was eventually made permanent in February for a reported £1.5 million until the summer of 2028.
The Telford-born player appeared in 43 games across all competitions last season as Davies’ side advanced in multiple competitions, scoring three times and assisting twice, while also playing in a variety of positions ranging from his natural central midfield position to right-back and even left-winger.
However, as the Blues embarked on a high-profile summer recruitment push, Gardner-Hickman was judged surplus in the near term, reconnecting with his former West Bromwich Albion manager, Valerien Ismael, at Ewood Park on a loan contract with a buy-back option.
After 13 appearances for Rovers so far, the aforementioned article suggests that a permanent agreement between the two teams might be reached in the coming weeks.
Birmingham City’s transfer plans are disclosed amid full-back worries.
Football League World exclusively disclosed on Wednesday, December 3rd, that the Blues intend to prioritise left-back in their transfer activities during the forthcoming window.
Alex Cochrane remains Davies’ consistent first-choice option, having made almost 70 appearances since joining from Hearts last summer, but the issues extend beyond the ex-Brighton player.
Lee Buchanan has made significant progress in his recovery from a major knee injury sustained a year ago. However, there is hope that the ex-Werder Bremen player can be loaned out to regain his fitness and regular playing time as the Blues focus on the play-offs, while Ethan Laird, who has also covered for Cochrane in parts, is also out until February with a hamstring injury.
Jack Robinson was signed as a reliable insurance option in the summer, but Davies is now expected to look for a natural backup for Cochrane instead.
FLW also confirmed that Davies will be without Bright Osayi-Samuel due to his engagement with Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations. However, the summer signing is now not scheduled to leave until after next weekend’s home game against Charlton Athletic.
Tom Wagner discusses Birmingham City’s ‘Powerhouse’ stadium design.
As previously stated, the Blues’ planned ‘Powerhouse’ stadium design was presented on November 20th, featuring a notable inclusion of 12 chimneys that has split opinion.
Two weeks after the momentous occasion at Digbeth Loc Studios, the club’s majority owner, Tom Wagner, disclosed the club media his opinions on the design that will serve as the centerpiece of the East Birmingham Sports Quarter project, which is estimated to cost £2-3 billion.
“I would tell the naysayers they can find something else to criticise,” Wagner told Reuters.
“In today’s environment, pleasing everyone is difficult.
“What we’ve discovered is that we’ll strive to speak to the core of our fan base and deliver something that resonates with them, and our goal here was to seek a stadium design that we felt honored the city’s history, legacy, and culture without being apologetic about it.
“In a way we’re celebrating it and then turning it on its head to present a brighter, more hopeful future,” the American explained.
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