Birmingham City's blockbuster next January signing could be £3.5m Premier League gem
Newcastle United are being tipped to sell a midfielder to Birmingham City this January transfer window.
Birmingham City have already completed one January signing and head coach Chris Davies is now reportedly targeting two more, including one from the Premier League.
Blues kicked off the winter window with the acquisition of Philadelphia Union left wing-back Kai Wagner and he’s made an excellent impact already, notching an assist on his Championship debut against Coventry City before scoring a goal in the FA Cup win at Cambridge United.
Wagner appears to be a great addition but Davies and his recruitment staff certainly aren’t done there. Recent reports suggest promising young Mjallby winger Abdoulie Manneh is set to be the next through the door. The 21-year-old Gambia international is expected to put pen to paper on a long-term contract soon.
Birmingham linked with Newcastle United swoop
With left-back and left wing seemingly ticked off the list of transfer needs, the next area of interest is central midfield. The Daily Mail reports Blues are keen on signing Newcastle United youngster Alfie Harrison and that the Magpies are willing to say their farewells to the midfielder, along with Jamaal Lascelles and Ben Parkinson.
Lascelles is Turkey-bound, Parkinson is off to Falkirk, and Harrison could be on his way to Birmingham – if the report is to be believed. Newcastle paid around £3.5 million to sign Harrison in February 2024 but the 20-year-old, yet to make a first-team appearance, hasn’t made his competitive senior breakthrough under Eddie Howe.
Harrison’s contract expires this summer, so he could leave for free. Chronicle Live adds: “Newcastle are getting interest from Birmingham for Harrison. The Magpies paid a seven-figure fee for the ex-Man City youngster a couple of years ago when Steve Harper thanked the board for the Yorkshire lad's arrival and an undisclosed fee was mentioned in the official press release.
"But Harrison has not had much of an opportunity under Howe and has watched on as youngsters like Sam Alabi have been included in Champions League night squads. Harrison is under contract until the end of the season and could net a small fee for Newcastle if he goes this month.
"If not, Harrison could leave on a free transfer with Chronicle Live told that he has a clutch of clubs in England and abroad interested."
How would Harrison fit in at Birmingham?
Although he’s failed to make it at St. James’ Park thus far, Harrison has impressed within Newcastle’s youth ranks. The midfielder, predominantly a six or an eight but also capable of playing as a 10, has scored five goals and provided 15 assists in 55 games for Newcastle U21.
Harrison very quickly graduated from the Magpies’ U18 team as he scored three goals in as many games. Before moving to the Toon, Harrison netted 14 goals and notched eight assists in just 31 games for Man City U18.
If Birmingham were to sign Harrison, there wouldn’t be too much of a risk as the fee would be minimal, or nothing if the deal is secured for the summer rather than for now. As Harrison is yet to make a competitive senior appearance in his career, it’s highly unlikely that he would feature in the near future. But there’s clearly some potential there that Blues are looking to tap into.
The here and now is of course the most important time as Birmingham target promotion to the Premier League, but signing players who can break through in the future is also pivotal.