Birmingham City are still coming to terms with their relegation to League One and difficult conversations are taking place behind-the-scenes. In addition to the eight out-of-contract players whose futures are uncertain, a number of those under contract could be moved on this summer.
Some of those decisions will be taken by Blues after a season where expectations weren't met, but others will be made by players unwilling to drop into League One. Blues have a number of players with international careers to protect and the third tier of English football isn't likely to be good enough for selection.
There is an ideal world, though, where Blues could hang onto their best players. After all, many of those signed last summer committed to lengthy contracts that can't just be ripped up.
On the Keep Right On Podcast's 'relegation post-mortem' episode, Alex Dicken, Brian Dick and Ben Hawker each named a player they would like to see remain at St Andrew's this summer. Check out their selections below...
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Brian Dick
“I don’t expect Paik Seung-ho to be here next season but obviously he is the closest thing Blues have got to a central midfielder who is the fulcrum of the team – a technical, and a reasonably physical and mobile player. Paik is the one I would love to see lining up on the first game of the season away to Stockport in August!”
Alex Dicken
“I would keep Paik as well. There are two more for me, one of whom is Krystian Bielik. I very much doubt he will be interested in a season in League One. I know he had other offers on the table last summer, some from abroad and some from other Championship clubs, and he didn’t want to go to League One previously with Derby County because he thought it would hurt his chances of making the Poland national team.
“I’d be surprised if he dropped down, but he does have two more years on his contract so Blues hold most of the cards. Bielik is capable of playing centre-back and has probably been the club’s most consistent player in the games that he’s played there over the course of this season. He’s been the best centre-back this season and one of the best midfielders – definitely the best holding midfielder. It would be an absolute coup if Blues could convince him to play in League One, even if it’s just for a season.”
Ben Hawker
“Both of those two feel quite difficult to keep hold of and they would be on my list as well. The one that I’ll go for would be Lee Buchanan at left-back. I think he’s been excellently consistent this season and stepped in to play centre-half at times and not looked massively out of place. Blues hold all the cards because he signed a five-year deal.
“I don’t think the club are in a position where we have to sell players to balance any of the finances. The club hold the cards and it’s whether these guys want to stay. In the very near future there’s got to be an, ‘Are you in on the journey with us in League One or are you out?’. If they’re not then the club can make arrangements to move these guys on, whether that’s permanently or just in the short-term. The worst situation would be if some left in August and Blues were scrambling around trying to replace players of that quality. These are the decisions you want sorted or in the works early in the summer.”
