Birmingham City transfer chances fade as Burnley, Luton Town and Sunderland join race

Birmingham City's chances of signing Ian Poveda are fading after reports of more clubs being interested in him.

Poveda was a target for Blues in the January transfer window but he ended up joining Sheffield Wednesday on loan. His contract with Leeds United is up in the summer and the Whites are unlikely to offer him a new deal, allowing him to leave Elland Road on a free transfer.

Tony Mowbray, who worked with Poveda at Blackburn Rovers, spoke publicly of how the club tried to sign him, but he instead went to Hillsborough. Wednesday hold an interest in re-signing Poveda, but now they face competition from their league rivals and the Premier League, which makes a move to St Andrew's less likely.

Colombian outlet AS is reporting that Burnley and Luton Town have now joined the race to sign Poveda, as well as Sunderland. Burnley and Luton Town are both in the relegation zone and look set for a return to the Championship, whilst the Black Cats finished mid-table this season.

Poveda played 10 times for Wednesday after joining in January and contributed to Birmingham getting relegated after supplying an assist in the 2-0 win for the Owls against Blues in February. The two-time Colombian international was absent for the final five games of the season because of an injury.

Birmingham's relegation to League One makes a move increasingly unlikely and their shortlist will slightly change from what it would have been had they stayed up. Poveda has never played in League One with his senior football experience being in the Championship and the Premier League. He was also on the books of Manchester City and played in the UEFA Youth League.