Birmingham City have already been busy in the transfer market this summer and look set to be busy right up until it closes on September 1.
The Blues have been linked with several well-known players in English football, with EFL Analysis exclusively unveiling they were not interested in signing Alexander Mitrovic.
Meanwhile, Birmingham City have also been linked to signing former Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; however, EFL Analysis understands getting his Besiktas contract terminated may be an issue.
It has been reported by talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface recently suggested Birmingham need to sign a striker; however, the club have now been linked to a former Barcelona defender as their next transfer target.
Birmingham City interested in Mikayil Faye
The Blues have reportedly made a move for former Barcelona defender Mikayil Faye from French club Rennes, according to the Daily Mail.
Faye left Barcelona last summer to allow the club to register Dani Olmo and other new signings due to the financial crisis at the Catalan club.
The Senegalese defender would not be the first player who has been part of the Barcelona setup to join Birmingham City, as Paik Seung-ho had been part of the B team in Spain.
Mikayil Faye for Barcelona against Real Madrid
Photo by Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images
It also demonstrates the second time this summer that Birmingham will be looking to raid Rennes for a player, after they brought in Kyōgo Furuhashi, who has impressed many fans already despite only being at the club for a matter of months.
Faye can play at centre back and left-back and is a powerful, athletic player who is of interest to several clubs across Europe, as he has seemingly struggled to settle in France, as he made only 11 appearances for Rennes.
Xavi was a fan of Mikayil Faye
The former Barcelona manager and club legend was a serious fan of Mikayil Faye while he was in charge of the Catalan club.
Xavi brought the young defender into the first-team fold, with many fans expecting Faye to become the next La Masia graduate to become a star at the club.
As reported in Telegraphi, Xavi said: “He has already played a few friendlies with us and was on the last tour of the summer. He is a skilled player with ball distribution, aggressive and fast. He is at a good level, no doubt. He can help us.”
While he never managed to become a regular at Barcelona, with him having to leave to join Rennes, there has always been high expectations for the player, and now Birmingham may be willing to get the most out of the player.