Birmingham City haven’t quite begun their new League One season with the dominance some might have anticipated. They opened with a modest 1-1 home draw against Reading, followed by a narrow 3-2 away victory over Wycombe Wanderers.
Chris Davies’ side controlled the game against Wycombe, enjoying 74% possession and registering 13 shots compared to the home side’s eight. However, despite their dominance, the win was more tense than it needed to be by the final whistle.
The former Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager, now leading Birmingham from the St. Andrews dugout, would likely be pleased with Alfie May’s performance, as he’s now scored in back-to-back league matches after joining from Charlton Athletic this summer.
May, who won the third-tier golden boot with the Addicks last season, could find his starting position under threat if Birmingham manages to pull off this high-profile signing.
Birmingham’s search for a striker
According to a recent report by Birmingham Live, the chances of Birmingham re-signing former loan star Jay Stansfield this summer are looking slim, despite their already strong attacking lineup.
Marco Silva has indicated that Stansfield will have more opportunities to impress at Fulham, despite numerous EFL clubs, including Birmingham, expressing interest in him.
However, Birmingham isn’t giving up just yet. As reported by the Mirror, the club, backed by significant financial resources, remains determined to bring Stansfield back to St. Andrews. The dynamic 21-year-old was a standout performer for the West Midlands side last season, even during a difficult relegation campaign, and could provide another exciting attacking option for Davies, especially with an ageing Lukas Jutkiewicz in the squad.
What Stansfield can offer Birmingham
Birmingham fans are certainly familiar with Stansfield’s goal-scoring ability, as he netted 13 goals in 47 games last season, including a memorable strike against now Premier League side Southampton.
The young Fulham forward also has experience finding the back of the net in League One, having recorded nine goals and eight assists in 38 games for Exeter City during the season prior to his breakout campaign with Birmingham.
| Stansfield’s goal record – youth/senior level | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club played for | Games played | Goals scored | Assists |
| Birmingham | 47 | 13 | 3 |
| Exeter | 39 | 9 | 8 |
| Fulham (senior) | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Fulham U21 | 22 | 7 | 3 |
| Fulham U18 | 27 | 31 | 4 |
| Sourced by Transfermarkt | |||
The 21-year-old has consistently demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess throughout his youth and senior career, earning praise from former Exeter teammate Kevin McDonald, who described the Fulham number 28 as a striker who “has got it all.”
It’s no surprise that Silva’s team is working to integrate him into their Premier League setup, hoping he develops into a top homegrown talent for the club over time.
Jutkiewicz, however, may feel uneasy about Stansfield’s return, as it could push him down Davies’ selection order to make way for the young talent. The Blues stalwart, a legend at St. Andrew’s with an impressive 333 appearances for the club, could see his playing time diminish even further if Stansfield rejoined the squad.
The experienced EFL player has averaged just 15 minutes off the bench in league matches so far, winning only two of eight duels against Wycombe, showing signs of decline. Birmingham is aiming to dominate the third tier this season, and their momentum could increase if they manage to secure Stansfield’s signing.
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