Birmingham City won’t be entering into the Championship happy to just make up the numbers as Chris Davies’ men move back up to the tricky division with a new lease of life.
Last time the Blues were in the second tier, they depressingly sunk down to League One as years of mistreatment off the pitch and dire results on it culminated in the St. Andrew’s giants finally falling off the cliff.
Now, they’re back and better than ever after a monumental 111-point haul saw them coast to the title, with plenty of new signings rumoured to be entering through the door to help them acclimatise back to the EFL’s top league.
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It’s not the most bizarre claim to suggest that Tom Wagner and Co could even go back in for former star Nathan Redmond, considering the 31-year-old has just been released by Burnley and was a breathtaking watch donning a Birmingham strip during the fledgling stages of his career.
Redmond's standout spell at Birmingham
Before the likes of Jude Bellingham put Birmingham on the footballing map as a sensational St. Andrew’s prodigy, Redmond was the original golden child developed by the West Midlands side.
The Birmingham-born ace would excite and enthral his loyal set of supporters in equal measure throughout his stint at the club, leading to Norwich City picking up the pacey winger for around the £3.2m mark in 2013.
Therefore, the temptation to bring him back for nothing must be palpable, with Redmond triumphantly rejoining to add to his sizeable tally of nine goals and 11 assists.
But, Birmingham could also set their sights elsewhere in attempting to land a gung-ho right winger in the same vein as Redmond, with one target constantly linked with a switch to the Blues causing havoc in League One, much like the 31-year-old was once capable of.
Birmingham could now sign their next Redmond
After all, it would be a major risk on Davies and Co’s end to expect their former homegrown product to be as electric as he once was on his return, considering the one-time England international’s last two seasons have been horribly plagued by injury.
Therefore, Birmingham should go all full steam ahead to try and snap up the services of Peterborough United ace and reported target Kwame Poku, with the entertaining Ghanaian perhaps the second coming of Redmond.
Whilst Redmond has only been fit enough to feature 18 times for the Clarets across those two last campaigns, Poku – on the other hand – has been ripping League One to shreds as a captivating attacker down the right flank, much like the injury-prone veteran in his prime.
Last season, Poku would tally up a hefty 23 goal contributions from just 31 games, adding to his equally impressive 20 goal contributions the campaign prior.
RW
100
25
19
AM
50
4
8
RM
19
3
5
LW
14
2
3
CF
3
0
0
LM
2
1
0
Moreover, the 5 foot 10 forward is also capable of playing down the left wing and through the middle as a number ten like his soon-to-be free agent counterpart.
Therefore, Birmingham coming out on top to snap up the “outstanding” star – as he has been lauded by football journalist Lukman Evergreen – would be a real signing of intent, with the 23-year-old superstar also potentially linking up with the likes of Jay Stansfield and Alfie May to devastating effect.
Of course, there will be a lot of sentimentality on the end of Blues supporters regarding that possible reunion with Redmond.
But, with all of his injury issues taken into account, alongside Poku now excelling in what Redmond used to do so well, this might well be a necessary signing for Davies’ men to make in the here and now to unsettle the Championship.
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