'Advanced stages' - Birmingham City closing in on £3.4m-rated attacker following surprise bid

Birmingham City are reportedly advancing in talks to sign Gil Vicente attacking midfielder Kanya Fujimoto.

Blues, eager to add depth and quality in midfield and attack, have reportedly turned to the versatile Fujimoto, who has enjoyed his most productive season to date. The 25-year-old has scored five goals and made six assists in 30 Liga Portugal appearances this campaign, stepping up slightly from three goals and seven assists in 33 matches last term.

Portuguese journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto reports Birmingham have already submitted a bid to sign Fujimoto, whose contract at Gil Vicente expires on June 30. It’s said the deal is yet to be completed but the clock is ticking and talks are at an advanced stage, moving forwards rather than backwards.

Tapping into the free agents’ market yet again following the acquisition of central defender Phil Neumann from Hannover 96, Blues are seemingly motoring ahead in their surprise pursuit of Fujimoto. The former Japan under-20 international has a current market value of around €4 million (£3.4m) as per Transfermarkt, so Birmingham can’t really go wrong signing him for free.

Fujimoto is predominantly a number 10 but can often float between a host of positions, something Gil Vicente have really benefited from since his arrival from Tokyo Verdy in 2020, initially on a two-year loan. The Japanese can operate as a central midfielder, as a winger on either side, or even as a shadow striker. Blues boss Chris Davies could experiment to find out what he believes is Fujimoto’s best position.

Will Birmingham still sign Kwame Poku if Fujimoto joins?

If Blues are successful in their swoop for Fujimoto, they will have added cover in two areas they intended to strengthen – the right wing and attacking midfield spots. Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku, who has been in talks over a free transfer to Blues, in turn wouldn’t be as needed as first thought.

Signing Fujimoto won’t stop Birmingham in their pursuit of Poku, however, with Davies keen to bring the 23-year-old to St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park regardless. Blues are understood to have tabled an offer to the winger and are in talks over finalising a deal, though there are complications as Poku’s agent would rather he moved abroad.

It was an exceptional season for Poku as he scored 12 goals and made eight assists in 27 League One appearances, averaging a direct goal involvement every 103 minutes. The one-time Ghana international shone in the FA Cup, too, notching two assists in two games. Blues aren’t the only team interested as clubs across Europe have been monitoring Poku’s situation.

Other positions Birmingham are likely to strengthen in are at striker, in central midfield, on the left wing and in between the sticks. The full-back positions have sufficient depth, there are enough top-level centre-halves to make do, though another could yet sign, and Blues probably wouldn’t need another number 10 if Fujimoto comes in.

In other news, an in-demand Birmingham youngster has put pen to paper on his first professional contract, inflicting a killer blow to Rangers and Crystal Palace.