Every transfer on Birmingham City’s Christmas wish list - including ex-Liverpool gem and bold Villa raid
Chris Davies’ side will hope a strong transfer window can fire a promotion push
Committed summer spending in the last 18 months means Birmingham City are not just surviving in the Championship, but thriving as they’re comfortably mid-table and closer to the play-offs than relegation.
It also gives Chris Davies’ side the luxury of being able to cherry-pick value additions in the January transfer window rather than forcing Blues to panic-buy next month, a detail that can’t be overrated.
However, smart recruitment in January could allow Birmingham City to continue pushing towards the top six and make themselves one of the premier destinations for players who want to join a project that looks set to end up in the Premier League.
Alongside plans for a new stadium, improvements to the starting XI and depth players will be the focus in the transfer market then, so with that in mind we cast our eyes over the players who have been linked with B9 to pick out the top potential targets.
Who is on Birmingham City’s Christmas transfer wish list?
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - Did you know the Ox was only 32? He racked up almost 200 Premier League appearances, won the Champions League and played for his country 35 times before turning 27, yet his career has nosedived since the turn of the decade mostly as a result of injury issues. Now without a club, he could be a bargain pick up for The Blues especially if they offer a highly lucrative contract.
Craig Dawson - The Olympian has been without a club for a few months since ending his time at Wolverhampton - the eighth club he’s played for from Radcliffe Borough and Flixton to the bright lights of the Premier League. Birmingham City were rumoured as a contender to become the ninth in the summer and though that never materialised, we think given Chris Davies could use some more defensive solidity, it could be worth revisiting that. At the very least, Dawson would be a useful leader in the dressing room.
Che Adams - Adams is another former Blue who is reportedly admired by the current regime. The flying Scot moved from Southampton to Torino ahead of the 2024/25 season and has adapted well to Italy, with a good strike rate this season. Adams remains the most likely candidate to lead the line for Scotland in the World Cup so he may not fancy disrupting his career before then. However, a summer move could be more possible, with Adams set to turn 30 in North America.
Dele Alli - West Bromwich Albion seem the more likely contender for Alli’s signature in 2026 given his personal relationship with Ryan Mason from their Tottenham Hotspur days. But it’s thought Birmingham City are also in the frame for the free agent and if Alli can give the assurances that he’s in the right head-space to perform then he may well be a gamble that pays off handsomely.
Emi Buendia - At their respective peaks, these players had a combined value of €105m (£91m) and though some on this list obviously will never reach their peak valuation again, the 28-year-old Argentine international probably isn’t part of that group. His match-winning interventions for Aston Villa have proven that.