Birmingham City plans transfer raid as new link emerges

Soccer

Birmingham City have been linked with a transfer for Swansea City defender Harry Darling with the January window now open.

Birmingham City are reportedly interested in Swansea City centre half Harry Darling when the January transfer market opens. Blues scooped up three more points in their biggest victory of the season at Wigan Athletic on Saturday, moving them two points clear at the top of League One halfway through the season.

Blues had an unusually busy summer under Knighthead, Craig Gardner, and Chris Davies, with 17 senior players signed on a permanent or loan basis, and 15 sold, released, or loaned out. While the new look squad has hit the ground running, the Blues are expected to be active again this month, adding to their roster and possibly approving exits.

While the wide areas will undoubtedly be addressed, given the injuries to Emil Hansson and Keshi Anderson, as well as the fact that Scott Wright has only recently returned from a lengthy layoff and young Ayumu Yokoyama remains a player who must be patient in waiting for his opportunity, there is an ongoing conundrum at the heart of defence.

When fully fit, the Blues have four senior centre halves. While Krystian Bielik and Christoph Klarer started the season as the clear first-choice pairing, Ben Davies has pushed his way into the mix in recent weeks, but Dion Sanderson remains the only option who has been routinely left out of the starting lineup and hasn’t played in a League One game in two months.

There has already been speculation about whether Blues could sign another centre half ahead of what is shaping up to be – and hopefully will be – a season that ends with at least automatic promotion, and if Blues return to the Championship next year, they will want to have the foundations in place to maintain the momentum they’ve built this season.

Darling, 25, has been an ever-present for Swansea this season under Luke Williams; the former MK Dons and Cambridge defender has contributed five goals, scoring in defeats to Hull and Leeds, and is on track to make 100 appearances for the club since signing in 2022. Darling’s contract at the Liberty Stadium expires in the summer, and Bristol City are reportedly interested in him as well.

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