Birmingham City join Preston North End in hunt for £2.1m-rated Sunderland flop
Birmingham City are reportedly interested in signing versatile Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles this summer.
The 24-year-old, born in Bury, sensationally made one appearance for Hungary during the group stage of the 2024 UEFA European Championships. Styles found out just two years ago that his grandmother was Hungarian, giving him eligibility to play for the national team.
Styles will have taken great pride in participating at the Euros - and he’s totted up an impressive 23 caps for Hungary since March 2022 - but the months preceding were far less glamorous.
Six months on loan at Sunderland were such a disaster that the Black Cats decided against activating their option to buy clause. Styles played just 12 times and was well out of form in whatever position he was utilised in.
The campaign before was a tricky one, too, as Styles played six times for Barnsley in League One before featuring on 22 occasions for Millwall in the Championship. Just one goal and one assist were contributed in his spell at The Den.
Birmingham could provide Styles a route out of his nightmare, however, as journalist Alan Nixon reports Blues have joined the race to sign him. There’s decent competition as Preston North End have been linked this week and Hull City were interested in January, but it’s a realistic prospect.
Callum Styles valuation set by Barnsley
Styles is reportedly available for just £500,000 this summer, way short of the €2.5 million (£2.1 million) valuation set out by Transfermarkt. Predominantly a left midfielder but capable of playing anywhere in midfield or as a left-back, Styles could be an intelligent addition.