The summer transfer window has sprung into life in the Championship
12:55, 30 Jun 2025
Could Chris Davies, the manager / head coach of Birmingham City, be under pressure if Birmingham make a poor start next season?
Chris Davies is trying to add to his Birmingham City squad.
Coventry City are expected to sign much-coveted Aston Villa right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
Frank Lampard appears to have struck a £3.5 million deal for the 22-year-old defender, who won a clean sweep of player of the year awards last season while on loan at Preston North End.
Milan van Ewijk was Coventry's only out-and-out right-back last term and has been subject of speculation himself amid links to Galatasaray, Fulham and Everton.
CoventryLive report: "Kesler-Hayden would provide real strength to the position and will clearly be looking for regular first team football from his first permanent move, having made 51 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and assisting three goals for the Lilywhites last season.
"Kesler-Hayden signed an extended contract with Villa before linking up with Preston, this time last year. However, a permanent exit has been strongly suggested in the media over recent weeks - with Villa able to record any sale as pure profit, to aid PSR worries."
Wrexham join O'Brien race
Wrexham have reportedly joined the race to sign midfielder Lewis O'Brien.
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O'Brien joined Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2022 after they'd defeated the midfielder's Huddersfield Town side in the Championship play-off final, but O'Brien struggled to make an impact in the Premier League and has instead been routinely loaned out in the three years since. HE spent the second half of last season with Swansea.
He has already been linked with Hull City, Southampton and Birmingham City and Forest apparently want £8m to let him go.
Now The Sun's Alan Nixon claims that Wrexham have him in their sightlines as they prepare for their first campaign at this level since 1982.
Wednesday ongoing turmoil
The crisis continues at Sheffield Wednesday, who could pretty soon have no manager, no coaches, no training pitches, no friendlies and a player exodus.
Grim reading in the Sheffield Star, who haven't been able to track down a player who has been paid yet for June - and there are some players who now haven't been paid for two months.
They report: "It’s payday and at the time of writing there are many players at the club who have not been paid for the month of June. Payments at Wednesday usually take place on the final day of the month, so while there is still the rest of the day for them to be paid and not technically be ‘late’, the money was expected before now.
"It follows news last week that non-playing staff at the club were informed that there was ‘an uncertainty that salaries will be satisfied on time’, making it three of the last four months that there have been problems with wage payments at Hillsborough.
"The Star has been made aware that a number of Owls players have not been paid, including some of those whose contracts expire today and some who remain contracted – it’s also understood that, unlike last month, there are also players in the academy who have gone unpaid."
Players who haven't been paid for two months are able to hand in a 15-day notice as per Fifa regulations and leave the club for free.
Danny Rohl is now being strongly linked with Leicester City, who sacked Ruud van Nistelrooy last week. as they prepare for an opening day match against... Sheffield Wednesday.
Birmingham City burst into life
Birmingham City are hoping to seal a deal with Wolves for Tommy Doyle that will ultimately cost £10 million, it is claimed.
Doyle is apparently being lined up for a season on loan at St Andrew's before an obligatory purchase next summer. Loans with purchase options have been used more frequently in recent years to help clubs navigate financial fair play cycles and when big bills are paid or received.
Transfer activity is clearly stepping up and reports are also gathering pace about James Beadle, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Demarai Gray to come into a squad which won the League One title.
Norwich braced for star exit
Josh Sargent is being linked with clubs in England, Germany, Italy and the United States thanks to his record of 44 goals in 98 matches for Norwich City.
Wolfsburg are the latest club to be namechecked as potential suitors, reports the Pink Un, but Norwich are protected in negotiations by the player having three years left on his contract.
Sporting director Ben Knapper said: "We understand that he's going to have interest in the market, and that's natural for a player of that level, (but) we're in a strong position as a club, and of course, let's see how things develop. Somebody's going to have to come a big level, I think, to prise them away."
Swansea eye up Galbraith
Swansea failed with a £750,000 move for Leyton Orient's Man Utd academy graduate Ethan Galbraith in January but their interest could now be reignited.
"WalesOnline has learned they have come back to the table this week and are now ready to explore the possibility of a move again, having made further enquiries," report the South Wales press.
"Of course, should they wish to firm up their interest, they are likely to face plenty of competition for his signature. A host of other clubs are in the frame right now, with Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town both believed to have had bids knocked back, the latter coming in with a valuation of around £1.5m.
"Swansea haven't yet made any sort of formal bid themselves in this window, and their refreshed interest remains tentative at this stage."
Jonjo Shelvey set for Hull trial
Jonjo Shelvey will train with Hull City this week.
HullLive report: "Shelvey, who left Burnley, is without a club. He is understood to be coming to City to aid his fitness and ensure he's in tip-top shape ahead of the new campaign. The 33-year-old midfielder has been given the opportunity to train with the Tigers to help that process, and naturally, both parties will take a look at each other over the coming days."
Hull also remain in talks with Aston Villa over a permanent move for Louie Barry, who spent much of his loan at the MKM Stadium injured in the second half of last season.
They are hoping to sign Oli McBurnie as a free agent too and are apparently lining up a midfielder from Europe after moving on from the above-mentioned Lewis O'Brien.
Stoke City start pre-season
Sorba Thomas is the only new senior player in at Stoke so far but plates are spinning to try to get more through the door as Mark Robins oversees his first pre-season training.
Stoke City report back for pre-season
Stoke City report back for pre-season
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