Birmingham City's attack underperformed in the Championship last season, and manager Chris Davies is set to make significant changes this summer. The team's defensive record was among the best in the league, but they were the lowest scorers in the top half of the table. Jay Stansfield and Marvin Ducksch shared the top scorer award with just double figures in the league, but no other player made a substantial goal-scoring contribution.
Historically, when Birmingham City have succeeded at this level, they have boasted a wealth of attacking options. During their last promotion to the Premier League, the squad included Cameron Jerome, James McFadden, Kevin Phillips, Garry O'Connor, and Marcus Bent. Reporter Alex Dicken analyzes the current options and areas for improvement.
Wingers
Blues ended last season with four wingers who would be valuable assets to most Championship teams. Carlos Vicente and Ibrahim Osman were Davies' preferred starters in the final weeks due to their running power. Vicente, signed for an initial £7 million in January, offers speed and dynamism, which Davies prefers over the craft and creativity of Patrick Roberts. Osman, on loan from Brighton, impressed greatly, and Davies has openly expressed his desire to bring him back permanently. However, Brighton did not include an option-to-buy, and competition from other clubs may be fierce. Blues have made significant efforts to make Osman feel wanted, but the fee will be substantial.
Demarai Gray's role is not directly affected by the pursuit of Osman. Gray will start next season as one of four wingers, and if the Osman deal drags on, Gray could have a head start. Gray struggled with form after injury and may benefit from a full pre-season. At 30, he will not want to play second fiddle.
Strikers
Davies appears to want to build his attack around Jay Stansfield and August Priske. Stansfield remains the leading light, but Davies needs viable alternatives to avoid over-reliance. Priske earned high praise from Davies, who said, "I don't think we would have been able to play like we have done without August." Blues seem set on using a physical center-forward, giving Priske the first opportunity.
The futures of Kyogo Furuhashi and Marvin Ducksch are uncertain. Kyogo, signed from Rennes, scored only one Championship goal and lost faith from Davies, making an exit likely. Ducksch scored 11 goals in all competitions but does not press effectively, which contradicts Davies' 'press to score' philosophy. With interest from other clubs and a possible return to Germany, a parting of ways is possible.
What Needs to Happen
Signing Osman would be ideal for Davies, as he requires no settling-in period and has high potential. If Blues can offload Kyogo and Ducksch, they could acquire more suitable strikers. However, both players are in their thirties with little resale value, making sales difficult. Ideally, Blues would re-sign Osman and bring in two new strikers to complement Stansfield and Priske.
