Several clubs join Blackburn Rovers in race to sign £1.8m-rated Birmingham City star

Blackburn are not the only club interested in signing Birmingham winger Siriki Dembele this summer.

Several other Championship teams - albeit unnamed ones - have contacted Blues to express an interest and are in contention to win his signature, Birmingham World understands.

Dembele was out of sorts during the second half of last season as his work rate wasn’t at the desired level, as revealed amusingly by former head coach Tony Mowbray. As a result, Birmingham were happy to let him go for the right fee this summer – but that stance has now changed somewhat.

It’s understood that Dembele has put in far more effort so far in pre-season, impressing new manager Chris Davies who had heard contrasting reports from last campaign. Although the club will still listen to offers, Davies is happy to keep hold of Dembele if he continues his current trajectory.

It’s been made crystal clear by Davies early doors at Birmingham that he simply won’t tolerate a poor work rate, so Dembele must have done quite something to get himself back in the good books.

The 27-year-old scored six goals during his first season with Blues, particularly impressing in wins against Huddersfield Town and Blackburn. The latter, now managed by former Birmingham boss John Eustace, would like to reunite with Dembele, regardless of the evolving situation detailed above.