How Birmingham City can become promotion favourites without splashing out on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

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Birmingham City have been linked with a number of household names this summer transfer window, but the Blues won’t need them if they recruit just three other players.

EFL Analysis recently exclusively revealed reports of ex-Fulham goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic heading to St Andrew’s were not true.

Meanwhile, the Blues were also said to be interested in former Liverpool ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. However, EFL Analysis understands getting his Besiktas contract terminated may be an issue.

Chris Davies and co. won’t need to worry about forking out on big-name star’s wages in their bid to get promoted to the Premier League, though. talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface recently suggested Birmingham need to sign a striker. However, there are actually three other positions that if filled will make Birmingham’s squad complete.

• READ MORE – Former Birmingham City star makes move down under to join New Zealand-based side

Winger – Lewis Koumas (Liverpool)

Birmingham currently need cover for Keshi Anderson and summer signing, former Blues player Demarai Gray.

Alternative winger Alfie May left for Huddersfield this summer, so any injuries to the current Blues wide men could spell trouble.

The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle has reported the Blues want Reds youngster Lewis Koumas on a permanent deal, but they will have to battle with Wrexham for his signature.

Although Koumas plays for Wales and a move to nearby Wrexham would be easier, Birmingham would give him a guaranteed opportunity to play on the wing and feed balls to Jay Stansfield and Kyogo Furuhashi.

Investing in Premier League gems is a good move for Blues if they want to go up to the top flight. Koumas already has Championship experience after playing 43 league games for Stoke on loan last season.

Left back – Omar Richards (Nottingham Forest)

Blues need to bring in cover for Alex Cochrane this summer window. Alternative Lee Buchanan is injured and Cochrane being taken off with a knock against Blackburn was enough to show reinforcements are needed at left back.

Davies is yet to confirm whether his defender will be available for their clash against Oxford on Saturday, and right back Ethan Laird did well in his place, but Birmingham won’t want to be caught short again.

Lee Myun-jae joined on a free transfer for the second half of last term as a back up, but left at the end of his contract after just three appearances.

One player the Blues could recruit is Omar Richards from Nottingham Forest. He has played in pre season, but wasn’t involved in his side’s opener against Brentford. He signed from Bayern Munich in 2022 and has spent two seasons on loan since.

He has struggled to get a look-in at Forest after struggling with injuries, and with a year left on his Forest deal, the defender will surely be looking for a chance to get minutes in England while also being happy to serve as a deputy to Cochrane.

Time is running out for Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell to find a new venture. Birmingham may not be the right fit though, given he will come with a huge wage bill if he signed permanently. A loan would be a possibility, but the England international would probably prefer to stay in the top flight.

Leicester’s Luke Thomas could do with a move as he’s far down the Foxes’ pecking order, but it’s unlikely they will give him to a potential promotion rival.

Centre back – Terry Yegbe (Elfsborg)

Ben Davies was a good option for Birmingham in their League One title winning season, with the 30-year-old able to play at left-back and centre-back during his loan.

The Rangers player is now being linked with Queens Park Rangers and Oxford, though, and the Blues are better off looking elsewhere for a more permanent fix.

Club captain Kristian Bielik left to join neighbours West Bromwich Albion this month, and Birmingham need to find a replacement. Davies ideally requires a left-footed centre-back to replace him.

Reports by Swedish outlet Sport Expressen earlier this month linked the Tom Brady-owned club with Ghanaian defender Terry Yegbe.

Yegbe, currently playing for Swedish side Elfsborg, is six foot five and would match the physical threat Phil Neumann and Christoph Klarer provide. While he lacks experience in England, he won’t be a starter, but will still be a good back-up option should Davies need it during the long Championship season.

Formerly linked with Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Brighton, Yegbe recently spoke about the Birmingham rumours.

“It was my teammate Buhari Ibrahim who showed me the rumour yesterday,” he said to Fotbollskanalen, as per Yahoo. “I told him I didn’t know anything about it because I asked my agent not to tell me anything about the transfer window. I just want to focus on Elfsborg, no matter what happens next.”

Birmingham will need to recruit the right central defender to keep adding to their impressive number of clean sheets achieved in 2025.