Birmingham City are expected to bolster their squad this summer

Birmingham City are gearing up for a pivotal summer transfer window as they aim to build on a dazzling League One campaign which saw them secure promotion back to the Championship with a staggering 111 points.

The Blues were the runaway leaders throughout the 2024/25 campaign and in reality always looked a cut above the team’s around them due to their incredible squad depth and the immense wealth of their ambitious American owners, which allowed them to attract quality players such as Jay Stansfield and Alfie May among others.

Club chairman Tom Wagner has high aspirations for Birmingham which stretch well beyond the Championship and he’ll hope with another solid transfer window that Chris Davies and his already talented team can take positive steps towards achieving their goal of becoming a top-flight club.

It promises to be another busy summer at St Andrew’s and an exciting period for supporters. But how are Birmingham likely to line-up in the second tier next term? Based on recent rumours here’s a possible XI.

Goalkeeper and defence

First choice goalkeeper Ryan Allsop kept 21 clean sheets in 38 appearances last season and was a solid performer throughout the season between the posts as the Blues stormed to the title in record-breaking fashion. He’s likely to keep his place with Bailey Peacock-Farrell providing cover. In defence, Ethan Laird has plenty of Championship experience already with Swansea City and QPR, and is developing into a consistent performer for the Blues. The Manchester United academy graduate registered four goals and four assists and impressed in the third-tier.

Central defender Christoph Klarer was among many supporters Players of the Season for last term and looked imperious in defence against League One forwards last term. He mainly partnered Rangers loanee Ben Davies last term, but reports do suggest Birmingham could replace him with highly-rated Swansea City ace Harry Darling. He’s valued at around £3m and is seen as one of the very best the division has to offer at the back after scoring five goals last term. At left-back, Alex Cochrane has looked solid since arriving from Hearts and is currently on course to keep his place in the line-up at St Andrew’s in a fairly familiar and solid back-line that will have their sights set on back-to-back promotions.

Midfield and attack

Tomoki Iwata made the League One Team of the Season and in many fans eyes was one of the best players in the league last term. The Japanese international could be paired with loanee Kieran Dowell again next season after the Rangers ace solid form in the second half of last term.

The Blues are looking to make a statement of intent on the right side of attack and are understood to be one of the leading contenders to sign Peterborough ace Kwame Poku after his heroics against them in the EFL Trophy final. However, West Brom among others are also thought to be interested.

Meanwhile, on the left-wing Birmingham have been linked with an audacious attempt to try and land former Everton winger Demari Gray. The 28-year-old, who was one of the books at Birmingham is reportedly valued at around £6m by Al-Ettifaq but his huge wages could be a potential stumbling block.

In attack, Jay Stanfield, who registered 19 goals and three assists in 37 matches is expected to lead the line. He cost the club an eye-catching £15m and is expected to be a crucial player in years to come with Alfie May likely starting in a familar front two.

Full Birmingham lineup: Allsop, Laird, Klarer, Darling, Cochrane, Dowell, Iwata, Poku, Gray, Stansfield, May