Birmingham City have not given up on bringing Ibrahim Osman back to the Second City. The Ghanaian winger was a popular loanee for Blues last season, scoring twice in 18 appearances. Manager Chris Davies made it clear in his end-of-season interviews that he would like to re-sign Osman.
Ongoing talks with Brighton
BirminghamLive understands that Blues have remained in dialogue with Brighton & Hove Albion since the end of last season over the possibility of signing Osman. Brighton are thought to be willing sellers, but as things stand, the two clubs are poles apart in terms of their valuations.
Financial constraints under SCR
Blues are working under financial constraints this summer to ensure they stay within the Championship’s new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) protocols. Clubs are allowed to spend 85 percent of their revenue on their first-team squad. Birmingham have pushed the boat out in each of the last two summers, spending over £25 million in 2024 to sign 17 new players, many of whom have since been moved on. They forked out for another 12 last year, with big contracts agreed even if transfer fees were lower.
Recent spending and budget
It is worth remembering that Blues have already spent £6 million to make Jhon Solis’s loan from Girona a permanent deal and splashed out £15 million on Carlos Vicente, August Priske, and Kai Wagner in January. That is why Davies has candidly admitted that Blues have only budgeted for a low-cost deal where a goalkeeper is concerned. BirminghamLive reported on Friday that the club are in talks to re-sign James Beadle on loan from Brighton. The club are operating in the knowledge that any deal for Osman would be costly and are having to manage their spending elsewhere as a result.
Davies on transfer strategy
“It was ten plus last year, this summer I'm thinking five but quality and measured, the right players,” Davies told us. “That's a challenge because we haven't got an open chequebook that we can just go and spend. We've got a budget with restraints that we need to work within and be creative in a very competitive market.”
Other targets and squad depth
In addition to a goalkeeper and a left-winger, Blues have looked at midfielders and forwards but remain relatively well stocked in those areas. Taylor Gardner-Hickman has enjoyed two weeks of pre-season and is one of four senior central midfielders currently in Blues’ squad. There has been a willingness to listen to offers for Kyogo Furuhashi, but the Japanese striker made a strong start to pre-season with two goals against Huddersfield Town on Friday. Marvin Ducksch is seeking an exit, and Blues would have some extra wriggle-room if they can recoup a fee and shift the remaining two years of the striker’s contract off their books.
