Opinion: Birmingham City should not back down on transfer stance amid Leeds and Newcastle interest

Birmingham City are somewhat going into the unknown this summer, with takeover rumours overshadowing everything else that could occur in the coming weeks.

The Blues had another disappointing season in the Championship in 2021-22, spending most of the second half of the season in the bottom quarter of the league before finishing in 20th position, having won just one of their last 10 matches.

They have struggled for some time now in the second tier, with things looking like they’re getting worse before they improve, and some believe a change in the boardroom is needed.

Birmingham’s Chinese ownership group has never been the most popular at St. Andrew’s, which is why the talk of a takeover in the last month has been exciting – for now though nothing has materialised.

If the same ownership structure remains for the upcoming campaign then it’s unlikely Lee Bowyer will get much in the way of transfer funds to spend, which may mean he has to promote some of the young players into his first-team squad, especially with the likes of Kristian Pedersen and Jeremie Bela set to depart.

Nico Gordon appeared 11 times in the Championship, whilst Jobe Bellingham and George Hall were individuals who made brief breakthroughs into Bowyer’s squad, with two league outings a-piece.

Both have been linked with moves away from St. Andrew’s this summer, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United all looking at Bellingham, the younger brother of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude.

It is Hall though who could be the more imminent departure from the club – that is despite BirminghamLive reporting a ‘not for sale’ stance, amid interest from Newcastle and Leeds United.

The 17-year-old made his senior debut for Birmingham back in January, playing 85