The genius Birmingham City bargain £1m transfer that could be final piece in Chris Davies’ puzzle

Birmingham City are reportedly interested in signing Arminia Bielefeld left-back Louis Oppie this summer but face competition from two other ambitious Championship clubs.

Blues are reportedly seeking to reinforce the left side of their defence to provide depth and competition. Alex Cochrane took the mantle for the majority of last season as the previous first-choice left-back Lee Buchanan was sidelined with two serious knee injuries.

Although Cochrane and Buchanan are more than capable of locking down the left on their own when fit, manager Chris Davies wants some extra security. Injury problems can mount up when you least expect them to and left-back has proved to be a problem area in that regard.

Football Insider reports Blues have shortlisted Oppie to satisfy Davies. Birmingham, Hull City and Norwich City are all said to be chasing the 23-year-old defender and it could end up being a bidding war. That said, Oppie only has 12 months left on his Arminia contract and could leave for a bargain fee.

Oppie was one of his club’s standout players as Arminia clinched the German third-tier title and defied all expectations to reach the DFB-Pokal final last season. Arminia hearts were broken as they were defeated 4-2 in the final by Stuttgart but there was so much to be proud of as they knocked out Bundesliga teams Werder Bremen, Union Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen earlier in the competition.

Starting all six of Arminia’s DFB-Pokal games during that remarkable campaign, Oppie scored twice and assisted once. The attacking-minded full-back was just as productive in the league, too, as he scored three goals and provided nine assists in 37 appearances.

How would Louis Oppie fit in at Birmingham City?

Blues are seemingly eager to tap into Oppie’s attacking potential but it wouldn’t be easy for the German to slot straight into the starting lineup –and  far from it. Cochrane’s impact at left-back last season cannot be understated and Buchanan was an imperious option before his injury struggles, so Oppie would need to be patient if he were to join.

That wouldn’t necessarily make St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park a bad destination, however, as Oppie would have the opportunity to etch his name in an important chapter in Birmingham’s history. Davies and his side are targeting an immediate top-six finish and Oppie could play an important role if he could force himself into the manager’s plans.

If Oppie were to head to Hull instead, he would have a better chance of regular game time from the off. The report from Football Insider suggests the Tigers are considering selling Cody Drameh and would need to sign a replacement. Oppie could be that man.

Norwich, meanwhile, are preparing for long-term servant Kenny McLean’s decline. Although the 33-year-old is predominantly a defensive midfielder, he filled in at left-back towards the end of last campaign, highlighting the lack of depth in the position. Oppie could help solve that.

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