Marco Silva gives definite Jay Stansfield answer to Birmingham City transfer question

The Fulham manager has completely ruled out a summer exit for Stansfield, confirming a plan to properly introduce the striker to Premier League football this season.

Birmingham were keen on signing the attacker permanently following a highly successful loan spell last season, but any slim chance of a romantic return has been snuffed out.

Stansfield did make a return to St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park in a capacity but not in the way Blues supporters would’ve hoped. The 21-year-old was on the scoresheet as Fulham beat Birmingham 2-0 on Tuesday night, dumping Chris Davies’ side out of the Carabao Cup at the second round stage.

The striker refused to celebrate his goal and received several rounds of applause from the home crowd, including when he was substituted late in the second half.

It was after the fixture that Silva entirely eradicated any hope of Stansfield re-joining Birmingham as he spoke about the ambitions for Fulham’s number 28 in great depth.

“I’m almost 100 per cent sure that he’s going to be our player. Of course, I cannot guarantee to you 100 per cent because the market is open and it’s difficult to control the market every single time, but the plan for him is to be part of our squad,” Silva said.

“We did plan something for Jay since I joined the football club. In the first season, he was in the under-21s. Two years ago, it was a clear moment for senior football in League One. Last season, it was a moment for him to get another step.

“He proved his quality at this great club in the Championship and now he has to work hard to get the chance at our football club, to get the feeling of being a Premier League player. The plan for him after a good Championship season was to fight, I’m ready to help him to get in the right direction,” Silva concluded.