Despite some uncertainty entering into pre-season, Birmingham City is likely to be involved in the promotion shake-up in the Championship next season.

Under the ownership of Knighthead Capital Management, the Blues have become one of the most ambitious teams in English football, and certainly in the EFL, with players such as Tom Wagner devising ambitious short and long-term plans for St. Andrew’s at Knighthead Park.

Unsurprisingly, Wagner’s ultimate objective is to return them to the top tier for the first time in a generation, with the goal of consolidating and eventually being a power in the division among some of the current European contenders.

However, such ambitions have elicited conflicting reactions from those outside, particularly given the club’s current condition.

Blues made the first of two significant squad reshuffles under Chris Davies a year ago, when they returned to the Championship in record-breaking form as League One champions.

However, as was the case earlier this year, such a large investment in some well-known players was not totally justified by a tenth-place result, even if it was the club’s best in a decade.

And, rather concerningly, much of the transfer talk in the run-up to pre-season has been about outgoings, which now appears to include club-record acquisition Jay Stansfield, who had a poor season.

However, Football League World’s Birmingham City fan pundit, Jason Moore, has taken a mixed opinion on the forward amid renewed transfer interest.

Birmingham City backed to retain Jay Stansfield, as £25 million transfer interest escalates

Indeed, the 23-year-old has received a lot of attention recently, especially after the Blues paid more than £15 million to sign him on a seven-year contract from Fulham in August 2024.

Since then, the England youth international has been a figurehead for Knighthead’s rebirth, and after leading the team to the League One title, he finished last season with 10 goals and six assists in 44 league games, despite the fact that only two of those goals came in 2026.

Hull City, Ipswich Town, Everton, and Sunderland are all interested in a £25 million transfer, yet Blues remain confident in preserving their greatest asset, as Moore agrees.He told FLW that £25 million is a reasonable sum for a 23-year-old player capable of playing in the Premier League, regardless of contract term or other circumstances.

I do not think it will happen. Moore continued, “If an established club came in for him, maybe.” “But I just think the contract length and how he’s seen at Blues, I don’t see it.”I believe that if £25 million came, I would cash in and wish him the best. But I do not see it.

“I believe he has too good a relationship with the club and the supporters, so I don’t see it happening. I don’t think Ipswich or Hull is large enough drawer for him.””All three promoted clubs, particularly Hull, are likely to struggle,” he stated. “But, if Everton came in for him, I think he’d go.””Unless someone with a strong pull comes, I don’t see it happening.”Even if someone wanted to spend £25 million, I don’t see it happening because we’ll be in the Premier League soon.”

Birmingham City will hope Jay Stansfield remains loyal amid Premier League leave speculation.

Stansfield has only played in the Premier League four times with Fulham, and he will undoubtedly pursue similar goals again with much of his career still ahead of him.

After signing a seven-year contract with the Blues two years ago, the forward is still under contract for another five years, and if no transfer is made, he and August Priske will remain with the club until the start of the next decade as part of their attack.

However, Everton are clearly in the market for some of the EFL’s top talents under David Moyes, as they also have their sights set on Middlesbrough’s Player of the Season, Hayden Hackney, as they look to make progress in their early seasons at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Unsurprisingly, losing Stansfield this summer would be a loss for the Blues, even if some are concerned about his recent play, and the hope is that he becomes even more clinical in the Championship and propels his present club into the top flight.