How Chris Davies’ starting lineup could look next season in the Championship based on recent Birmingham City rumours.

With Birmingham City already crowned League One champions and their promotion to the Championship pending, focus can start to shift to the summer transfer window.

The Blues brought in Chris Davies as they new manager last summer following their relegation from the second tier. Since his arrival, City have gone from strength to strength and can look forward to their immediate return to the Championship next season.

Getting ahead of the game during the winter window, Birmingham have already signed centre-back Phil Neumann on a pre-contract. He will officially make the move from Hannover 96 to join his new club on July 1st.

The champions aren’t set to stop there, though. BirminghamWorld has taken a look at some of the latest transfer rumours and put together a potential starting XI to see them into the 2025/26 season.

New blood already pending for Birmingham City defence

Goalkeeper and defenders: Ryan Allsop, Ethan Laird, Christoph Klarer, Phil Neumann, Alex Cochrane

Signing Neumann on a pre-contract has set the Blues up nicely for the upcoming window. With the best defensive record in League One this season though, there are other areas to focus on more than the backline.

Midfielders: Tomoki Iwata, Paik Seung-ho, Chris Rigg

Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-ho have been a great pairing for the Blues this season but they could be joined by a fresh face after the summer. City have previously been linked with Sunderland wonderkid Chris Rigg and reports continue to rumble on throughout the divisions as we approach the transfer window.

Premier League sides are also keen on Rigg, who will cost a reported £20 million this summer. It will take a lot to compete with clubs higher up the English ladder but dreaming of a blockbuster signing after becoming champions is far from unrealistic.

Birmingham City bolster their attack

Wide players: Kwame Poku, Keshi Anderson

The Blues could be set to sign Kwame Poku from Peterborough United this summer, after the winger rejected a new contract offer. According to Football Insider, the 23-year-old has turned away a club-record deal to stay with the Posh and is now set to leave as a free agent. Birmingham have ‘opened talks’ to sign Poku, who has 12 goals and 11 assists across the board so far this season.

Keshi Anderson is a versatile and reliable player with eight goals and seven assists on his tally so far this season. The 30-year-old would provide support and seniority for young Poku on the opposite flank.

Centre-forward: Jay Stansfield

After signing last summer for a ‘guaranteed £15 million’ from Fulham, the Blues set a new League One record after add-ons and bonuses for Jay Stansfield, according to the Telegraph’s Sam Dean.

Stansfield has enjoyed a stellar maiden season, with 22 goals in all competitions. He is certainly living up to his handsome price tag and now he’s set to light up the Championship once they return as well.

Birmingham City XI: Allsop; Laird, Klarer, Neumann, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata; Poku, Rigg, Anderson; Stansfield.