EFL club owner says Birmingham City 'not finished' in transfer market as Sunderland ace rejects new contract

There are now less than two weeks remaining in the summer transfer window. It has been an interesting one for clubs in Birmingham - Birmingham City in particular. What is happening in the EFL rumour mill today?

One of the most active EFL chairmen in the media has recently taken to a podcast to defend Birmingham City’s transfer dealings this summer. They have made a plethora of big signings, much to the chagrin of League One fans - but he says he has ‘no problem’ with their strategy.

Meanwhile, one of Sunderland’s key players has recently rejected a contract offer at the Black Cats. This would open the door for clubs to make a move for him - Leeds United are thought to be among the teams who are interested.

Darragh MacAnthony defends Birmingham City’s transfer policy in the summer window

So far, Birmingham have made a total of 11 signings in the summer transfer window - a few of which cost several million pounds, including Christoph Klarer, Willum Willumsson and Emil Hansson. This has certainly been done as a statement of intent from the Blues, but it has caught the ire of fans of other clubs in the division.

Nevertheless, Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has ‘no problem’ with Birmingham’s big spending. He insinuated that he would have applied a similar strategy if he was in their position and encouraged people to stop ‘moaning about it’. Furthermore, he also believes that the Blues are ‘not finished yet’.

Speaking on his official podcast, The Hard Truth, MacAnthony said: “I’ve no problem with what Birmingham have done. If I was the size of that club coming down, we’d spent a long time in the Championship and we had that one year where we weren’t restricted with the cap, and we had that bit of time, I’d be like ‘we’re all in, we have to do this now, we might not be able to do this in year two’.

“What’s the point in moaning about it? It is what it is, so I’ve no problem with what Birmingham have done and they’re not finished yet.”

Jack Clarke rejects new Sunderland contract as club begin to circle

Sunderland winger Jack Clarke is a man in demand. Recently, the 23 year has rejected a new contract offer from the Black Cats - as such, this has piqued the interest of clubs who have been linked with him.

This is according to a recent report from Football Insider. Leeds United have been heavily linked with a move for the player - after Crysencio Summerville left the club to join West Ham United, they have been lacking in quality players out wide. The imminent exit of Georginio Rutter, who has seen his minimum fee release clause be activated by Brighton, has further necessitated their quest for new attacking options.

Due to this, Leeds could mount a serious effort to bring Clarke to Elland Road. He won’t be cheap, as he still has two years remaining on his existing Sunderland contract, but the finances gained from their recent sales should give Leeds plenty of room to manoeuvre.