Lee Bowyer hints at Birmingham City summer transfer approach

Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer has revealed he wants to recruit Norwich City forward Onel Hernandez on a permanent basis, making this admission to Birmingham World following his side’s 2-0 defeat against Huddersfield Town.

Hernandez is one of three attacking January arrivals to have made a big impact at St Andrew’s already alongside Lyle Taylor and Juninho Bacuna, making 11 appearances and recording three goals and two assists in the process.

Not only has the Cuban plied his trade as a wide man, but also in an advanced midfield role and a striker in multiple systems as the Blues continue to contend with an injury crisis that has marred their recent progress.

Managing to bounce back from an uneventful temporary spell at Middlesbrough earlier this term, recording just one goal in 18 displays for the Teesside outfit, he has seemingly found his feet in the West Midlands.

But with the second-tier side currently operating within a limited budget, they were only able to recruit the 29-year-old on loan and he looks set to return to parent club Norwich City at the end of the season as things stand.

Regardless of which division the Canaries are in next term though, he could be deemed surplus to requirements again at Carrow Road, and this is something the Blues’ manager may be banking on as he delivered his clear stance on making this agreement a longer-term one.

He said: “I’d love to get him on a permanent.

“I think he was very good again today.

“But the likelihood of that happening I don’t know, that’s something that Craig [Gardner] will have to speak to Norwich about – well, now.

“We’ll have to see but I don’t know if that will even be possible.”

The Verdict:

Considering they missed out on Riley McGree during the winter window,