Birmingham City are planning to strengthen their attacking options in the summer transfer window, with winger Ibrahim Osman emerging as their top target. Manager Chris Davies has expressed a strong desire to bring Osman back to St Andrew's following his successful loan spell from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Osman's Impact at Birmingham
During his time with the Blues, Osman scored twice and provided two assists in 18 appearances. However, his contributions extended beyond goal involvements. His ball-carrying ability and direct style of play made Birmingham more effective in the second half of the season.
After a standout performance against Preston North End in late April, Davies made his stance clear. "The best place for him is somewhere he's loved and is going to play, get minutes and keep growing," said Davies. "I'd love him to come back but there's a lot of moving parts there so we'll see."
Financial Hurdles
Osman was a significant investment for Brighton two years ago, and securing a permanent deal will require a considerable fee. Birmingham may need to leverage their growing relationship with the Seagulls, who have loaned three players to the Blues in the past season. James Beadle and Eiran Cashin joined on loan in the summer, while Marc Leonard made a permanent move from Brighton in 2024.
Alternative Target: Tommy Watson
If a deal for Osman cannot be reached, Brighton have another left-winger who could become available. Tommy Watson, who scored the winner in the play-off final for Sunderland a year ago, has seen his career stall since a £10 million move to Brighton. A loan to Millwall yielded just 242 minutes of football, and Brighton are reportedly planning to send him to a Championship club for the next season.
According to Sky Sports, multiple Championship clubs have already shown interest in Watson, making him a viable alternative for Birmingham.
