Tony Mowbray has a tricky job on his hands to turn things around at Birmingham City following the disastrous reign of Wayne Rooney, but the presence of the January transfer window could aid his case somewhat.
Blues have until 11pm on February 1 to complete their business, giving Mowbray plenty of time to assess his squad and make the necessary changes. The cash can't be splashed willy-nilly due to Profitability and Sustainability (P&S) restrictions but other means exist.
One avenue to potentially explore - in addition to loans - is the free agent market, a place that has reaped rewards for Blues in the past. Jordan Graham, John Ruddy, Kevin Long, and Koji Miyoshi are just some of the recent success stories, for instance.
It may come as a surprise as we're mid-season and other clubs are in similar positions to Birmingham, but there are still a whole host of options out there to sign for free. Birmingham World has taken a look, finding 11 players Mowbray's side could perhaps turn to.
1. Danny Rose (left-back)
The former England international of 29 caps has been without a club since departing Watford in September 2022. It’s quite the unknown how much quality he still has but if his past has anything to go by, he’d be a hard-working and experienced option. Blues need depth at left-back.
2. Josef Martinez (striker)
The Venezuelan was recently a teammate of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami but saw his contract expires on January 1. With 105 goals and 15 assists in 161 MLS appearances, Martinez has a terrific track record. The only wonder is if he can convert that to Championship football.
3. Helder Costa (winger)
The Angola international left Leeds in June 2023 following a season-long loan spell at Saudi side Al-Ittihad. He has plenty of experience in the Premier League and Championship as he played for Wolves for three seasons before departing for Leeds in 2019.
4. Ryan Bertrand (left-back)
Another available to add depth to the left side of defence, Bertrand is now 34 but could do a job until the end of the season. He was released by Leicester City in July and is bound to have quality left in him and failing that, experience to add to the dressing room. Bertrand has 19 England caps, as well as 262 Premier League appearances.