Birmingham City set for transfer blow regarding 29-year-old

Spanish outfit Real Valladolid are NOT set to trigger their permanent option to sign Birmingham City winger Ivan Sanchez, which would have landed the Blues with some extra funds this summer, according to Chus Rodríguez on Radio MARCA Valladolid – per Puchela Fichajes.

The 29-year-old spent the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at the Spanish second tier side, appearing 12 times for Valladolid and scoring two goals.

A loan move to his native country came for Sanchez after injury struggles in the Midlands during the first half of the campaign, which restricted him to just two substitute appearances in the Championship.

Sanchez did feature for Bowyer at the back end of the 2020-21 season when he was first appointed as Blues boss, but he was willing to sanction his temporary departure – a deal which included an option to turn the move into a full-time one.

Despite reports earlier in the week suggesting otherwise, it is now claimed that Valladolid are on the verge of not triggering the clause in the deal, which is said to be valued as less than €1 million (£850,240), and that would mean Sanchez either remains a Birmingham player or the club will try to re-negotiate the deal for a lower fee.

The Verdict

Even if he doesn’t secure a permanent switch to Valladolid, you’d have to imagine that Sanchez’s time at St. Andrew’s is all-but over.

The Spaniard showed flashes of quality in his debut season with the club, but he lacked the consistency to be considered a top Championship winger.

And now that Lee Bowyer doesn’t play with wingers – or he certainly didn’t for most of the 2021-22 season – there will probably be no real desire to keep him around on the playing staff.

Therefore, the club will be disappointed if Valladolid