The five Championship free agents Birmingham City should target in the transfer window

Birmingham City have plenty of work to get through in the summer transfer window. Not only do they have several senior players out of contract and decisions to make over options for younger players, they must also address the weaknesses in Lee Bowyer’s squad.

If Kristian Pedersen leaves, as seems likely, Blues will need a frontline left-back, they could need depth, or indeed a complete change, at goalkeeper, they definitely need more centre-backs and ideally someone to challenge Maxime Colin at right-back. All that’s before we’ve even got to the midfield and attack where loan players will return to their parent clubs, no doubt with Blues hopeful some might return on a permanent basis.

Blues have shown themselves prepared to pay fees, Juninho Bacuna’s arrival from Rangers shows this, though these will mainly be aimed at younger players with a sell-on value. But free transfers will continue to be attractive options for Craig Gardner, with the technical director saying any older players are likely to be free agents.

BirminghamLive published a list of more than 160 Championship players whose contracts are ending this summer – some of whom might not hit the open market with club options.

Here are the names that stick out...

He’s off to Liverpool and everyone knows it but Fulham’s talented 19-year-old is the name that leaps off the list. The attacking midfielder might have gone to Anfield last months but the Reds couldn’t beat the deadline. Prolific striker is another who’s deal expires in the summer, although Rovers have the security of a year’s option. They’ll invoke that whether they go up or not. If they don’t he’s surely Premier League bound having already been linked with Leeds United and West Ham.

And near