Birmingham City star 'on the verge' of surprise exit just 148 days after joining

Birmingham City midfielder Alex Pritchard is reportedly closing in on a permanent transfer to Turkish Süper Lig outfit Sivasspor.

The 31-year-old arrived at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park from Championship side Sunderland merely 148 days ago but he’s expected to depart imminently. It’s been a tricky few months for the playmaker as he joined to reunite with Tony Mowbray but was soon parted with the manager once again.

Just nine Championship appearances and 329 minutes were racked up in a Birmingham shirt, with just one assist contributed. Injuries didn’t help Pritchard’s case but he certainly didn’t live up to the hype. Blues were then relegated to League One to rub salt in the wound after a difficult exit from Sunderland.

The Telegraph reports Pritchard is “on the verge” of joining Sivasspor following talks with Birmingham. Blues are expected to recoup at least the £100,000 paid to Sunderland on February 1, though the fee could be higher than that.

Sivasspor previously made a bid for Pritchard as they attempted to lure the former England Under-21 international from the Stadium of Light in January. But Birmingham swooped in and spoiled the party, instead convincing Pritchard to move to the West Midlands.

Formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, Swindon Town, Brentford, West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and Huddersfield Town, Pritchard has made 368 career appearances to date. The midfielder has scored 48 goals and contributed 66 assists. A move to Turkey would be his first ever venture abroad after 13 years in English football.