As Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers prepare for the summer transfer market, both clubs are focused on strengthening their squads.
We spoke to Charlie Haffenden of BirminghamWorld to discuss both clubs’ transfer strategies and what to expect from them this summer.
We spoke to Charlie Haffenden of BirminghamWorld to discuss both clubs’ transfer strategies and what to expect from them this summer.
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00:00Now, as Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers prepare both for the summer transfer market,
00:09they are focused on strengthening their squads.
00:12Birmingham, fresh from promotion to the Championship,
00:15will be looking to build on their success with key signings to secure strong footing in the league.
00:21The club's increased revenue partly thanks to their documentary series
00:25has given them the financial boost they need to pursue quality players
00:30and aim for future Premier League promotion.
00:34Wolves under Vito Pereira are also looking to improve their squad.
00:38The primary focus will be on bolstering their attack as they aim to push for a higher league position
00:43and potentially even challenge for Europe in the coming seasons.
00:47I spoke to Charlie Haffenden of Birmingham World to discuss both clubs' potential transfer strategies
00:54and what to expect from them in the summer.
00:58And just in terms of the summer window, obviously we've mentioned that a lot of players have dropped down
01:04to Blues' level to join them, to invest in this project and get them back up.
01:09How do you see them sort of spending in the summer?
01:11You know, they've been very ambitious so far.
01:13The Championship is a bit of a different kettle of fish, though,
01:17in terms of the financial restrictions you can face.
01:20What do you sort of think they're going to be prioritising in terms of the summer window,
01:26in terms of investment into new players?
01:29I think we'll see some investment, but just not as much as last year.
01:32Last year was an incredible rebuild and one we won't ever see again, probably at League One level.
01:38Yes, in the Championship it brings more money, they'll have more revenue.
01:41The prospects are potentially going to the Premier League.
01:43Could they take a gamble, spend a lot more money and then go up and rebuild that revenue out of that?
01:47Potentially, they could surprise us all and go and spend even more tens of millions on players.
01:52I don't think it'd be that much.
01:54Getting someone in like Phil Newman on a free transfer, a fantastic centre-half wanted by Bundesliga clubs,
02:00is a great step in the right direction.
02:02Making sure that Taylor Garden Hickman joins permanently from Bristol City for less than a million pounds,
02:07great business.
02:08Alphon Samstead coming in for the Icelandic International, a similar fee after his loan spell.
02:14Some great business done so far.
02:15I think more shrewd additions like that, free transfers, potentially loans in from the Premier League,
02:21could be done.
02:22And then maybe, as I say, they could invest a little bit more into those maybe attacking positions.
02:26We've got Jay Stansfield there already at Birmingham, but Alfie May, he's done well at times.
02:32He had a big goal drought.
02:33Could they maybe try and sign another striker to support Jay Stansfield at that level, potentially?
02:37But I suppose it's just a wait-and-see job.
02:39Probably not as much money spent, but still investment nonetheless.
02:42Charlie, looking at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and let's start with the summer window.
02:49It's obviously going to be quite a bit clearer.
02:51I've mentioned a few times, it looks like some big names are going to probably depart this summer.
02:58Matthias Cunha has come out and himself addressed the sort of comments made in an interview saying that he wants to fight for titles.
03:05And I think it was sort of dragged out of proportion by a few news outlets saying, you know, he's completely done, et cetera.
03:12And it was made to look as if he was that.
03:15And then he sort of came out and sort of downplayed it a little bit.
03:18He obviously wants to take the next step in his career.
03:21You know, he's gone away with international duty and scored for Brazil.
03:24When the last player who played for Wolves, who scored for Brazil, you know, the great nation they are is quite unbelievable, really.
03:32But, you know, he's clearly a player who throughout the season and in the back end of last season as well, has been a level above most of the rest in the group.
03:41You know, I think he knows that.
03:42I think Wolves fans know that.
03:44I think Wolves players know that as well.
03:46He's been unbelievable, but, you know, how it's a bit of a difficult situation when they have to probably part ways with him this summer.
03:56I mean, it's quite an awkward one when you have him coming out and saying he wants to challenge for titles.
04:01And then Wolves obviously focus on avoiding the drop.
04:04So there's a big difference there.
04:05And, you know, Fosin need to make sure that it's another player who, yes, they've taken him to the very top, you know, the likes of Ruben Eves, Pedro Neto.
04:13The next step is actually replacing him.
04:16Yeah, I think it's an inevitability, sadly, for Wolves fans that he will be leaving this summer.
04:21Whether it's taken out of proportion or not in that interview with, I think it was the Guardian, he's going to go, isn't he?
04:28There's a release clause for a reason.
04:29I think the reason he signed that new contract in January was just to try and, one, for Wolves fans to show that he was committed until the end of the campaign.
04:38Another one just to kind of reward him for his fine form, give him a better pay rise until end that season.