Sunderland’s ‘experienced’ winger ‘set to join Birmingham’ as Derby County miss out

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Birmingham City are reportedly set to bring in another winger before the end of the transfer window – and they look to have beaten Derby County to his signature.

Chris Davies signed Liverpool winger Lewis Koumas on loan at the end of last month, with the Blues boss looking for backups to first choice widemen Demarai Gray and Willum Willumsson.

It’s already been a busy summer for last season’s League One champions, and the second city club have even been linked with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain amongst other household names.

However, it’s a Premier League winger who shone in the Championship last term that Birmingham are reportedly going to sign in their push for a top flight return – and he was on second tier rivals Derby’s list of targets.

• READ MORE: Derby County’s unsung heroes get ‘a lot of credit’ as latest signing caps ‘unreal’ transfer window

Birmingham City set to sign Patrick Roberts on loan

According to Sky Sports, Birmingham are set to sign Sunderland’s Patrick Roberts on loan.

The Sunderland winger has made one start in the Black Cats’ four fixtures since their promotion to the Premier League, coming in to the XI for the defeat to League One Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup.

He has played 27 minutes of top flight football after coming on in the 2-0 defeat to Burnley, but has otherwise been on the bench in the league.

• READ MORE: He left Chelsea last month despite their ‘high hopes’, now he’s set to join Swansea City

Last week, Alan Nixon on Patreon reported other Championship side Derby County were willing to offer Patrick Roberts a fresh start on a three-year deal.

But despite the Rams reportedly offering a permanent switch, it’s Birmingham who are set to sign him on loan instead.

Ben Brereton Diaz signed for Derby County on loan from Southampton last week – and Birmingham may have been able to pounce on the move for Roberts as a result.

Ben Brereton Diaz’s Derby County move may have opened the door for Birmingham City

The arrival of Brereton Diaz at Pride Park from Southampton suggested Derby’s likelihood of signing Roberts had diminished.

The 28-year-old, who was previously hailed by Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris as ‘experienced’ and ‘ambitious’ in last term’s promotion campaign, is battling with new arrivals Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra for the right wing spot in the Wearside outfit’s XI.

Given he is in search of game time, competing with Willumsson for a spot in Davies’ XI may be a more attractive prospect, instead of fighting with Rhian Brewster at Derby, with Corey Blackett-Taylor still to return from injury too.

Roberts is now into the final year of his Sunderland contract and has played 147 games for them, scoring nine goals and grabbing 18 assists.