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This is a big summer for Birmingham City following promotion to the Championship from League One.
It was a record-breaking campaign for Blues in the third tier, and they waltzed to the league title, but now their ambitions will change as they look for their return to the Premier League.
Birmingham have not been in the top flight since 2011, but Tom Wagner is aiming for promotion this season and he will need to fund a huge transfer window to ensure that his team have a fighting chance of finishing in the top six.
Jay Stansfield wants Blues to break their record fee this summer, and while this may be spent on Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers, bringing in defenders is crucial for Chris Davies’ plans. However, there is one player at St. Andrew’s whose future has been debated in the past.
- READ MORE – Birmingham City and Middlesbrough have ‘done work’ on Richard Kone as Wycombe plot record-breaking offer
Krystian Bielik’s Birmingham City future becomes clearer
Back in the January transfer window, Fraser Fletcher reported that Stoke City were interested in bringing Krystian Bielik to the bet365 Stadium – but a move never came to fruition.
With that in mind, our Chief Football Correspondent, Graeme Bailey, has given an exclusive update on the Poland international’s future to EFL Analysis.
He said: “I am told that he does have a future at Birmingham. If that’s as a squad player, it’s whether he’s prepared to do that. Obviously last season he was in and out. I know there’s a lot of injuries and stuff but they are looking to bring another centre-back in.
“They’ve got Christoph Klarer there, who is an important figure for them. But Birmingham are building that squad, and Bielik can play multiple roles so he’s a good squad player for them.
“It will be one of those where it’s going to be dependent on him. I’m sure he still thinks he can play a role, so it will be down to his decision. He’s not a player that Birmingham will be forcing out, by any stretch, but I think they would listen to offers, especially if he wanted to go and other teams were pushing hard.”
- READ MORE – Premier League boss thinks Birmingham City target has ‘excellent’ trait, it’s great news for Jay Stansfield
Krystian Bielik has substantial experience in the Championship
There was plenty of change at St. Andrew’s last summer, but Bielik stuck by the club and captained them throughout the first half of the campaign.
Injuries, as they have for a while, plagued the defender’s final weeks of the season but he will be raring to go in the Championship in 2025/26.
At 27, Bielik is entering his peak and at times over the last couple of years he has proven why Derby County made him their record signing in 2019. However, as just stated, he does have a knack for picking up injuries and this may be of concern to Davies.
Nevertheless, Birmingham will gain a huge amount from his experience of Championship football, and keeping him at the club is vital to their progression next season.