HIGHLIGHTS
- Birmingham City aim to bounce back from relegation by actively shaping a competitive squad for League One promotion.
- Retaining key players, appointing key manager, and securing top targets means no relegation hangover for the Blues.
- Potential transfer of Harrison Burrows to Birmingham and Emmanuel Longelo to Barnsley could benefit all parties involved.
Birmingham City is keen to show that their Championship relegation was only a temporary setback by winning their way out of League One right away.
This season, the Blues will play in the third division of English football for the first time since 1995. But the club’s proactive attitude this summer has lessened the fear of a wide-open league.
Teams may split and a crisis may start to emerge if the aftermath of relegation is not well handled.
There is no indication that the Blues are suffering from a hangover from relegation thanks to the retention of multiple important players, the hiring of highly regarded manager Chris Davies, and the acquisition of top transfer target Alfie May.
Therefore, even if it would seem like Birmingham is venturing into uncharted ground, the West Midlands team is in a good position to defend their League One preference this time around.
With the goal of securing promotion on the first try, Davies will look to further hone his team before the new season begins.
Harrison Burrows of Peterborough United has been linked to a move to the West Midlands team. The left-back’s presence may hasten Emmanuel Longelo’s departure; he may be headed to Barnsley after an accepted bid.
While teams are often reluctant to do business with direct promotion rivals, these transfers may be completed with little pushback as the transfers are set to be mutually beneficial for all involved.
Burrows could be Birmingham-bound
Burrows has been identified as an ambitious defensive target for the Championship this summer, and Birmingham is apparently trying to stave off interest from them.
With six goals and fourteen assists for Peterborough previous season, the highly sought-after 22-year-old played a significant role in the Posh’s ascent to fourth place in League One.
Following an outstanding campaign, Preston North End and Sheffield United expressed interest in the left-back.
