After losing out on the play-offs the previous season, Birmingham City will look to finish in the top eight this season.
Even though they had just recently won League One, there was a lot of expectation at St. Andrew’s because of the significant inv
estment made by the Blues’ US owners.
Some will argue that Birmingham underperformed last season given the quality of the squad, but this assures Chris Davies has a solid basis for this season.
As a result, the summer transfer window will be focused on acquiring quality rather than quantity, and Birmingham’s hierarchy has demonstrated a willingness to spend on the correct player.
It’s not only transfer fees; the Blues are also spending heavily on wages, which is critical if you want to attract the best players.
Following that, we look at the top seven highest earners by weekly wage in Birmingham right now, however these data are simply estimates provided by Capology.
7Marvin Ducksch – £25,000
The striker was always going to be paid well because he came from Bundesliga club Werder Bremen and had a history of scoring goals in Germany’s top division.
Ducksch scored nine goals in the Championship last season, but he was not always convincing, and his future has been called into question. At 32, and with his reported weekly income, some may believe a departure is best for Blues.
6Christoph Klarer – £25,000
The centre-back is the Blues’ captain and a true leader on the field, so his inclusion on this list is not surprising.
He has been an influential character since his arrival, and he will undoubtedly be a vital figure for Davies this season as the Blues aim to gain promotion to the Premier League, which would result in a wage increase for Klarer and the rest of his colleagues.
5Kai Wagner – £30,000
The left-back was signed in January, and given Alex Cochrane’s injury history, the Blues wanted to find a replacement quickly.
So, the team deserves credit for getting Wagner on, and the estimated pay isn’t a huge surprise. After fitting in nicely at Blues, the former Philadelphia Union player will look to kick on during his first full season in England.
4Patrick Roberts – £30,000
Another experienced player, Roberts’ anticipated weekly salary of £30,000 will reflect the fact that he joined Birmingham after guiding Sunderland to the Premier League, therefore he was expected to earn a high salary.
Roberts is no longer a definite starter, so some may question whether he deserves such a high salary, but he could still play an important part for Davies.
3Demarai Gray – £30,000
It was regarded as a major coup for Blues to bring back the academy graduate 12 months ago, and Grey had a strong start to the season, however he struggled near the finish.
He is another player with an uncertain future, but if Grey does stay, he would love to lead the Blues back to the Premier League.
2Kyogo Furuhashi – £35,000
Another signing from a year ago, there was much enthusiasm when Blues signed Kyogo, with the hope that he would be the prolific scorer Davies required.
However, the Japanese international struggled, scoring only once in 28 games, with Kyogo appearing seldom in the run-in. Given the cost Blues spent for him, Kyogo was always going to be paid well, which could be a concern when looking for a buyer this summer.
1Carlos Vicente – £50,000
Vicente was signed by Birmingham in January, coming from La Liga side Alaves, and it was another statement deal for the club.
Vicente was widely believed to be earning a large salary when the relocation occurred, with Capology estimating that he is paid £50,000 per week. Clearly, that is a large figure by Championship standards, but Vicente has already demonstrated his abilities and will be a key player for Davies this season.
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