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Birmingham City are set to blow the Championship away with their spending power this summer, and EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal Che Adams is one big target on their list.
After achieving a record-breaking points tally in League One with 111, the Blues are looking to record successive promotions in 2025/26.
For Chris Davies’ men to achieve their goal of returning to the Premier League, Birmingham City will need an ‘aggressive’ transfer strategy, something they’re already putting in place.
Birmingham confirmed the signing of Phil Neumann on a pre-contract agreement from Hannover 96 in January. Meanwhile, Kwame Poku is also on the Blues’ transfer wishlist along with loan star Ben Davies.
With Birmingham offering at least £30k-a-week to new signings, St Andrew’s is an appealing destination for players wanting to play at the top end of the Championship, with one huge target emerging on their radar.
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How Che Adams feels about a return to the Championship amid Birmingham City interest
In 2024/25, Birmingham were the top scorers in League One with 84 goals, but ahead of their return to the second-tier, Davies is prioritising firepower.
We broke the news that Danny Ings is a target for Birmingham with his contract at West Ham expiring, and the former Liverpool star isn’t the only centre-forward on their radar.
In an EFL Analysis exclusive, we can reveal that Torino striker Che Adams is a ‘very expensive’ option for Birmingham this summer, but it all depends on whether the Scotsman would be willing to drop into the Championship.
Speaking to our Chief Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey about the situation, he said: “I think Che Adams is one who’s on Birmingham’s list. He does tick the boxes. Obviously, he’s been there before. Knows the club.
“Obviously be very expensive in the Championship. We know that. So let’s see how that one goes. But yeah, they do want another striker.
“I’m not sure how much he wants to drop to Championship. I don’t really think he’s that keen on dropping to the Championship, but there are options there. If it’s a long-term thing for Birmingham, I do think that’s an option for him certainly.”
Adams is currently playing for Serie A side Torino, where he’s scored nine goals in the league this season after leaving Southampton in 2024.
But it was at Birmingham where the 28-year-old became a fan favourite with a 22-goal haul in the 2018/19 campaign before joining the Saints in 2019.
Adams would be a statement signing for Birmingham
It was revealed in April that Championship clubs were interested in Adams. However, since his contract at Torino doesn’t expire until 2027 and he’s currently flourishing in one of Europe’s top five leagues, it’s clear to see why dropping down to the second tier wouldn’t appeal to the striker.
That being said, if the Blues can somehow work some magic in negotiations and lure him to St Andrew’s, he would be a statement signing in their quest to win promotion.
Adams has plundered 49 goals and laid on 17 assists in 156 Championship matches, and he’s easily someone who could fire 20 goals in one season, having shown his Premier League capabilities at Southampton.
Further, with the Scotland international entering the prime years of his career, there’s no better time to snap him up than now. Of course, the big issue is how expensive he’d be and whether he’d be willing to play in the second tier.