Birmingham City ‘step up efforts’ to sign Wolves star - might sell Leeds United target for funds

Birmingham City are set to step up their efforts to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Dion Sanderson on a permanent deal. The 22-year-old centre-half, who is on loan at St Andrew’s from Wolves, has been critical to Blues’ defensive success this season.

John Eustace’s side are the equal third-best defensive team in the entire Championship this campaign, with 20 goals conceded in 21 fixtures. Sanderson has missed just one game and has featured in 95% of all minutes available to him, helping Blues to six clean sheets in total.

Wolves received multiple bids of over £1 million from Sunderland in the summer - and now Birmingham are set to make a permanent bid for the defender. The Daily Mail reports Blues may even sell England U19 midfielder George Hall to Leeds United in January, freeing up the necessary funds to land Sanderson.

Leeds are said to be in a pole position to sign Hall, who has really impressed since making his breakthrough at the tail end of last season. The 18-year-old has played 17 times in the Championship this term and has, just like Sanderson, contributed one goal and one assist.

Wolves will likely be keen to keep hold of their man - and so Blues may have to fork out a large sum in order to bring him to St Andrew’s for the long-term. That said, he is yet to make his senior debut for the Wanderers, so unless new manager Julen Lopetegui likes the look of him, he may not be that valuable to them after all.