Birmingham City are now unlikely to complete the signing of a Celtic star, with a hijack now possible.

Birmingham are set to miss out on Celtic winger Hyun-Jun Yang as a £3 million deal has reportedly fallen through. Belgian club Gent have now reportedly joined the race to sign Yang instead.

Reports earlier today suggested that Yang was travelling from Scotland down to the West Midlands to complete his transfer to Birmingham, but it’s yet to go through. The new and earlier deadline of 7pm has put added pressure on Blues to get their business done quicker than usual and it’s proved tricky to get the Yang deal over the line as a result.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph reports that Yang’s Blues switch has now ‘collapsed’. It’s claimed that Birmingham have accepted the deal will not be completed before the window slams shut at 7pm and Yang is now set to travel back to Glasgow.

An earlier report from Joseph suggests that Belgian Pro League outfit Gent are closely monitoring Yang’s situation as they eye a potential hijack, now looking increasingly likely now he will not be completing a move to Blues. Celtic were yet to give the green light for the South Korea international to seal his Birmingham switch at around 5pm, and it’s now subsided.

Signed from Gangwon FC back in 2023, Yang has scored seven goals in 70 appearances for Celtic. The 23-year-old played 20 times to help the Hoops to the Scottish Premiership title last campaign, though many of his appearances were off the bench. The same can be said for the start of this term, too, so a move away makes sense for improved minutes.

Even though Blues are now reportedly set to miss out on Yang, Gent still have a chance of signing him as the Belgian window doesn’t shut until September 8.

Sunderland winger on track to join Birmingham

Yang isn’t the only winger Birmingham have been hoping to sign, as Sunderland’s Patrick Roberts is reportedly closing in on a season-long loan. Roberts was a regular starter for Sunderland during the course of their successful promotion push last season but he has fallen down the pecking order after Regis Le Bris’ side signed several new players over the course of the summer.

The 28-year-old has only featured once as a substitute in the Black Cats’ first three Premier League matches since promotion despite playing 45 times in the Championship throughout 2024/25. New additions Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi are ahead of Roberts in the Sunderland hierarchy and it’s believed a move away is favoured by all parties.

Just like with the Yang deal, there’s pressure to bring in Roberts on time. There are no guarantees that Roberts will join but the hope is he can successfully arrive through the doors at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

Burnley star under consideration

Another option in case Roberts cannot be signed is reportedly Burnley’s Manuel Benson. The versatile forward, capable of playing on either flank, is said to be of interest to Blues but he isn’t thought to be the first choice.

Benson joined the Clarets in 2022 from Royal Antwerp in Belgium and was a huge hit in his debut season under Vincent Kompany, scoring 11 and providing three assists as the Turf Moor side won the Championship title at a canter. However, the 28-year-old failed to make a mark in the top-flight, making just eight appearances, before completely dropping down the pecking order under Parker.

He played just just three matches last season due to a serious achilles injury, and has so far only featured for the reserves this term, scoring one goal in one game at youth level. Blues are thought to be weighing up a move for the Angolan international but they are not on their own with Swansea City also keeping tabs on the situation.