Blues business in the transfer market has yet to conclude.
Chris Davies expects more incomings before the summer deadline passes on September 1.
The manager’s determination to remould the squad continued with the sale of club captain Krystian Bielik to West Bromwich Albion.
Blues are believed to have banked just north of £2 million for the versatile Poland international, who departed on good terms.
Bielik’s exit raised some eyebrows as he was an important figure on and off the field at Blues and one of the leaders in the group.
Yet under this iteration of Blues, not even a player of such standing and who was influential in the League One championship season is seemingly safe.
If Davies and the Blues recruitment staff believe they can upgrade in positions or improve the depth and competition, they will back themselves accordingly.
Even if it means making tough decisions, as in Bielik’s case, then so be it.
Alfie May scored 17 times in the promotion season but was moved out to Huddersfield Town as Kyogo Furuhashi arrived from Rennes.
From the player’s perspective, Bielik – like May – knew his opportunities to start regularly would be limited due to Phil Neumann’s summer arrival and Eiran Cashin, whose loan might be with a view to a permanent signing.
Throw in Bright Osayi-Samuel, too, and the avenue of reprising a right-back role – as he did last season – was also shut off to Bielik.
Blues are inevitably being linked with a move for Rangers’ Ben Davies now, who was a success on loan in 2024/25.
But it wouldn’t be a surprise if they looked for a centre-half with a longer-term upside in mind.
Davies was asked about Blues recruitment this week and was quite adamant that it was a case of more, not less.
“Definitely something I am clear on,” he said. “We do need a few more to definitely finish the squad off. No doubt about that and we’ll be working hard to do it.”
It is no secret that Blues have been assessing needs in the wide areas, even though Demarai Gray and Kanya Fujimoto – who can also play centrally – were summer additions, whilst Emil Hansson was loaned out.
And competition at left-back as Lee Buchanan recovers from long-term injury is also likely to be under discussion.
Bielik moving across the city to Sandwell can reasonably be seen as an example of a flex Blues now possess.
In recent seasons the Baggies have cherry-picked Blues players or moved out to St. Andrew’s ones surplus to their requirements; this time it’s Blues who have the whip hand in sanctioning a transfer between the clubs.
