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Birmingham City steamrolled their competition in League One as they lifted the league title, and now, they’re a feared proposition in the Championship.
Tom Wagner has ambitions of Birmingham reaching the Premier League in 2025/26, and the American businessman will do whatever it takes to get them there.
Birmingham are expected to make five or six signings this summer as Chris Davies fine-tunes his squad ready for the Championship.
A plethora of names have already been linked with the Blues, including Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle, with Birmingham leading the race for the 23-year-old.
Doyle could join defender Phil Neumann by making the switch to St Andrews this summer, along with another big-profile name.
Joe Hart’s ‘exceptional’ praise for Birmingham City target Kyogo Furuhashi
On Thursday, reports in Japan indicated that Birmingham City were interested in signing former Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi.
Now, those claims have spread to England, as Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph revealed on X that the Blues have made contact with Rennes over a potential transfer.
Kyogo joined Rennes in a £10 million switch from Celtic in January but struggled for game time, making just six appearances for a combined 120 minutes.
News of Birmingham wanting to sign the 30-year-old shocked the rest of the Championship as the Japanese international plundered 85 goals in 165 appearances for the Hoops.
An aggressive, pressing forward with a sharp eye for goal, Kyogo would be a statement addition for the Blues, with former goalkeeper Joe Hart once waxing lyrical over him.
“It’s huge, what a great bit of news that is. I love him as a person, he’s a beautiful person and he’s an exceptional footballer,” Hart said via BBC Sport in 2023 after Kyogo extended his contract at Celtic.
“He has been brilliant since he came in and really shone for us last year in big moments and he really sets the tone for a high-pressing, exciting football team.
“He’s loved here. And obviously he’s felt that because he’s wanted to commit a real important time in his career to this club and we appreciate that.”
Kyogo would be a game-changer for Birmingham
Certain signings can propel a club from play-off hopefuls to promotion contenders, and Kyogo is one of them.
Should Birmingham land the aggressive forward, it would be a real statement of intent in their ambition to reach the Premier League.
The Japanese maverick has not only conquered football in Scotland but he’s also shone on the Champions League stage, striking against Lazio and Atletico Madrid in the competition.
So, with Jay Stansfield crying out for some competition, the Englishman would surely lose his place in the starting lineup to the incredible Kyogo.