Birmingham City and Sheffield United plotting January bids for League One goal machine

Birmingham City are reportedly among several Championship clubs considering a January swoop for Barnsley attacking midfielder Davis Keillor-Dunn.

It recently emerged that Blues boss Chris Davies was keen to bring in a new number 10 on deadline day but never managed to get one over the line. Although it’s still several months away, Davies could make signing a reinforcement in that position a priority when the winter transfer window swings open.

Birmingham have stuttered their way through the start of the season and have lacked the cutting edge which helped them tear League One to shreds. Seven points from an available 15 wouldn’t normally be sniffed at by a club just promoted, but Blues have aspirations of taking the Championship by storm and achieving a fast-track promotion to the Premier League.

League One attacker wanted by Birmingham and Sheffield United

You would hope Blues would click into gear sooner rather than later, but if they’re still struggling come January, then a move for Keillor-Dunn could make sense. SportsBoom reports Barnsley are ‘braced for offers’ for Keillor-Dunn after turning down several bids in the summer, with Blues ‘willing to test Barnsley’s resolve’ if the player continues his fine form.

Birmingham aren’t alone in the Keillor-Dunn race, however, as SportsBoom’s report suggests that Sheffield United and Charlton Athletic are also keeping close tabs on his situation. All three clubs are said to have a strong interest in Keillor-Dunn, who has scored five goals in seven League One outings so far this season.

The 27-year-old has been prolific for several years running. Last term, his first with Barnsley, Keillor-Dunn scored 18 goals and provided five assists in 42 League One games. Before that, the Ross County academy graduate racked up 53 goals and 20 assists in 152 League Two games across successful spells with Mansfield Town and Oldham Athletic.

Barnsley chief responds to transfer speculation

The Tykes were unwilling to let Keillor-Dunn and fellow key players Luca Connell and Adam Phillips leave in the summer, and it could be a similar case again come the winter. Sporting director Mladen Sormaz has confirmed the club won’t sell on the cheap and believes Barnsley offer the perfect environment for the trio to flourish.

“We were never going to let them go below what we think they are valued at,” Sormaz said of Keillor-Dunn, Connell and Phillips. “The biggest bonus since Conor (Hourihane) has come in and the way he has got them playing, the style of football and playing to all of their strengths, (means) I think a few of them are quite a bit happier to stay here.

“They see that if they were to go to a bottom or mid-range Championship (team), or even other top-end League One clubs, are they going to get to play in a style of football which is attractive and plays to their strengths this much?”

There are no guarantees that Birmingham, Sheffield United or Charlton make bids for Keillor-Dunn in January, but they could struggle to sign Keillor-Dunn regardless. Nonetheless, it could still be worth giving it a go if the attacker’s superb form carries on.