Birmingham City starlet ‘makes up his mind' amid Wolves and West Ham tug-of-war


The 19-year-old has decided he definitely wants to leave St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park this summer following Blues’ disappointing relegation from the Championship to League One, Birmingham World understands.
Already a 10-time Wales international, the midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to recent UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta over the past six months. A gaggle of Premier League sides are also keen, emphasising just how much his stock lies above the English third tier.
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Hide AdEven if Birmingham had stayed up, James still would have been looking to move on to advance his career. Blues have played a key role in the early stages of his progression but loyalties must be placed aside under these circumstances, with a long queue of teams likely to ignite a bidding war.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace were interested in signing James throughout the last two transfer windows and that intrigue is expected to continue into this summer.
West Ham United and Leicester City are now keen, too, with Julen Lopetegui eyeing up a previous target and the Foxes keen to improve their squad following their automatic promotion.
Jordan James tug-of-war to commence
Blues rejected three bids for James in the winter, one of which was around £4 million from Atalanta. The Welshman was very keen on the move to Bergamo but Birmingham stood in his way knowing how key he was to their survival hopes.
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With relegation confirmed on the final day, Blues’ hopes of keeping James died along with their second-tier status. A sale won’t be agreed at a low price but interested parties will be motivated by the player’s understandable desire to depart for pastures new.
James, born in Hereford but guided through the Birmingham academy system, has played 105 times for Blues at a senior level. In that time, the teenager has scored 10 goals and made two assists. Eight of those goals came during the most recent campaign.
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