Turning their attention away from a historic League One season and towards the summer transfer window, Birmingham City and Tom Wagner are now reportedly eyeing the chance to sign an Aston Villa gem.
Wagner wants to rekindle Aston Villa rivalry
Whilst attempting to swoop in and sign one of Unai Emery's most impressive young talents, Wagner has made it no secret that he's hoping to see Birmingham reignite their rivalry with the Villans in the near future. Back in the Championship and one step away from their rivals in the Premier League, the Blues chief is seemingly desperate to bridge that gap and commence a true battle.
Wagner told reporters earlier this month: “It’s absolutely a top objective. It’s the right rivalry for Birmingham, the right derby for English football, and the right way for each club to achieve its highest potential is by rekindling a rivalry that’s been dormant for too long. When I speak to the true fans on both sides of that rivalry, I get the same reaction, which is that they’d love to see it.”
Dowell-Birmingham-EFL Related
[He's a Dowell upgrade: Birmingham make offer to sign "unplayable" EFL star](https://www.footballfancast.com/dowell-upgrade-birmingham-make-offer-to-complete-deal-for-poku/ "He's a Dowell upgrade: Birmingham make offer to sign "unplayable" EFL star")
Birmingham City are attempting to sign a star who would be an upgrade on Kieran Dowell.
Unlike many clubs in the past, Birmingham won't just be looking to survive in the Championship at the first time of asking. Alongside Wrexham, they'll have their sights on causing a few upsets and pushing beyond the dropzone and perhaps even mid-table mediocrity if they get their summer business right.
That is the big unanswered question, of course. Just who could Birmingham sign this summer fresh from League One promotion? A number of names have already been mentioned, from Kwame Poku all the way to Torino's Che Adams who played for the club between 2016 and 2019.
Torino's Che Adams
Meanwhile, Birmingham may not be afraid to steal some headlines by signing a rival star when the summer transfer window swings open in what would make an immediate statement.
Birmingham eyeing Louie Barry deal
According to GiveMeSport, Wagner and Birmingham have held internal talks about signing Louie Barry from Aston Villa this summer. The young winger will be allowed to leave the Villans on loan in the coming months after having his spell at Hull City cut short courtesy of injury last time out, and a move to St. Andrew's could yet become an unexpected opportunity.
Louie Barry
Although his loan spell at Hull ended in frustration, Barry's form at Stockport County during the first-half of the season initially caught the eye enough to earn a move into the Championship. Scoring 16 goals in 28 games for the League One side, the 21-year-old earned the praise of football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described his form as "superb" in December.
Following what turned into a mixed season, Barry has a decision to make in the coming months. If his League One numbers are anything to go by, then the Villa gem could now be ready for the Championship and potentially Birmingham this summer.