Ahead of Leeds United’s trip to Birmingham City this afternoon, we spoke to Birmingham Live’s Joe Chapman to get the lowdown on the Blues.
What’s the mood like amongst Birmingham City fans as the new season gets started and begins to pick up pace?
Very excited. The new ownership, the early impact of Tom Brady – who we think might be in attendance – and a host of new signings, as well as the accelerated revamping of St Andrew’s, has everyone at Blues enthusiastic about the new season, on and off the pitch.
They picked up a very solid point on the road at Swansea last week and then brushed aside Cheltenham in the EFL Cup in the week, so everything is geared up towards the first home game of the new season.
Birmingham look to have been busy in the transfer window, how would you rate their business?
I suppose the proof will be in the pudding in the long run, but on paper it appears to have been a very impressive one. They’ve aimed at getting young players on permanent deals and on decent length contracts. They’ve worked hard to lower the average age of the squad and invested a lot of effort into planning for the long-term.
Lee Buchanan and Ethan Laird are two players who could play at left back and right back for many years to come. Siriki Dembele looks an eye catching signing in attack. They’ve secured permanent deals for Krystian Bielik and Dion Sanderson after excellent loans. Koji Miyoshi is a bit of a wildcard but has made an early impact.
A month ago, Birmingham City were linked to Werder Bremen striker Oliver Burke.
German outlet Bild claimed the Blues wanted to buy the 26-year-old this summer, and had made contact about a potential deal.
It seems nothing happened in that pursuit since then, but Bild today feature another story which should encourage Birmingham about the signing.
They start a story saying Burke should be used as a right-back at the weekend, more as an ’emergency’ solution with the injury to Mitchell Weiser.
It turns out that after featuring in that game, there’s a chance he’ll be sold by Werder Bremen. That’s explained by club chief Clemens Fritz.
“The transfer window is still open. We therefore have to see whether a suitable offer comes in for him, which everyone involved can imagine. That’s how we communicated it to him.”
Bild mention Birmingham City’s interest, claiming they asked about a transfer in July, but didn’t make any significative moves since then.
So even though Werder Bremen received no concrete offers so far, the ‘signs are pointing to a farewell’.
It sounds pretty much like the Bundesliga side are just waiting for the interested clubs to make their moves, and with Birmingham City being the only side named, they become an obvious destination for the 26-year-old.
