Birmingham City are on the verge of securing their first top-ten finish in the Championship in a decade. A single point from Saturday's trip to Portsmouth would see Blues reach 64 points for the campaign, surpassing the 63-point mark achieved by Gary Rowett's side in successive seasons. However, whether tenth place and potentially 66 points represent a satisfactory return on Knighthead's significant investment over the past two transfer windows remains a fiercely debated topic.
Last summer, Tom Wagner did not market season tickets on a promise of stability and consolidation. Blues' owners are not merely looking to break through the glass ceiling that blocked Rowett a decade ago; they aim to obliterate it entirely. As is well known, Birmingham City are a club in a hurry. While some might accept tenth place and a late-season upturn this year, everyone understands that such a performance will be far from adequate next season.
As discussions continue along the corridor to the manager's office and names begin to be linked with a hot seat that is not yet vacant, we have examined which players Blues can build around to progress further in 2026/27. We refer to them as 'building blocks' based on our opinion that they do not require upgrades in the summer. Share your thoughts at the bottom or make your selections using the widget.
Football Correspondent Brian Dick believes there are four players who should be guaranteed starters now, and two who could be.
Christoph Klarer
While it may be fashionable to highlight Klarer's mistakes, the Austrian should be Blues' Player of the Season by a clear margin. After last season, any doubts about whether a perceived lack of pace could hinder him at a higher level have been emphatically answered. Regardless of how he is moved from side to side or who partners him, Klarer takes full responsibility for his own performance levels. In my opinion, he ranks among the top ten central defenders in the Championship. He is not just a building block for next season; he is the keystone. Give him the summer off, hand him the armband in July, and we go again. Could he benefit from an upgraded partner? Perhaps, but it is not essential.
Kai Wagner
One of the major shortcomings this season, and arguably in League One as well, has been the lack of quality crosses into the box. Billed as the 'Assist King' at Philadelphia Union, the German arrived in January, opened up a supply line, and has taken over set-piece duties. His excellent delivery and solid start as a Championship defender make him a valuable acquisition. With Alex Cochrane offering a different option on the left, Blues need not worry about the left-back position.
Carlos Vicente
The Spaniard was the marquee signing of the January transfer window. After some bright moments and others that fizzled early on, he is now hitting his stride. Vicente has scored three goals, including a remarkable header against Wrexham. He is fast, direct, and possesses superb technique. Patrick Roberts was performing well on the right wing, but Vicente has elevated the position to a new level, and it is exciting to imagine what he might achieve next season.
Jay Stansfield
As long as Blues employ a 'press to score' system, Stansfield will be one of the first names on the team sheet. His goal return in the second half of the season has not met expectations, but there are mitigating factors. He has been moved around positionally, sometimes playing deeper than optimal for a player measured by goals. Yet his application and work rate have never wavered, despite having no summer break last year. If you question his output, his 16 goal contributions rank 14th in the entire league.
Encore
Two loan players have made a significant impact in the second half of the season, and hopefully Blues can bring them back. In Jhon Solis's case, that could be a permanent deal with Girona; for Ibrahim Osman, it seems unlikely they would meet Brighton's asking price for the razor-sharp Ghanaian, but a second season on loan would be more than acceptable. Solis has brought much-needed size and power to Blues' midfield, traits that were oddly missing after last summer's recruitment. The physicality of the Championship should have surprised no one. While not perfect, the Colombian's performances suggest a very high ceiling for the 21-year-old, making him a wise investment. If Blues can strike a deal, it would be with the intention of Solis becoming the main man in midfield for several seasons to come. As for Osman, his ability to beat a defender from a standing start has more than compensated for occasionally wayward shooting and crossing. He has added an X-factor to a team that badly needed one and is surely destined to play in one of Europe's top leagues, hopefully after another season of learning with Blues.
Quality Depth
Phil Neumann is arguably the most improved player over the last two months. After being dropped three times this season, the German centre-back has come back strong. But for the occasional gaffe in possession, I would place him in the building block category; he is that close. However, I wonder if Blues will look to upgrade at left-sided centre-back, which would put him in direct competition with Klarer. The right-back position does not need improvement either. Bright Osayi-Samuel has stabilised in recent weeks, showing what we hoped for when he first arrived. Some may prefer Ethan Laird as the starting right-back, and I have sympathy for that view, but until one establishes themselves as a consistent first-choice performer, neither can be categorised as a building block. Together, they form a good pair of options.
In midfield, Paik Seung-ho has had many good games but has not been the general Blues need to break into promotion positions. Coventry City have Matt Grimes, Middlesbrough have Hayden Hackney—players they can rely on week in, week out. The partnership with Solis is promising, but I wonder if Blues have found Paik's ceiling and whether, at 29, he will ever evolve into that dominant force. Chris Davies would probably argue he already is, but Blues need more personality in the middle of the park, especially away from home.
On the right, you have to feel for Patrick Roberts, who was having a good season until Vicente arrived. You cannot build around two right wingers, and Vicente is clearly ahead at this stage. A similar situation exists on the left, where Osman brought sparkle after Demarai Gray's form faded following injury. If Gray is the starting number 11 next season, I would have no complaints, and if he regains his pre-Christmas form, he will undoubtedly be a building block. However, the last few months have sown seeds of doubt. A summer off should see him return ready to show his undoubted quality.
Finally, in attack, August Priske might have been a building block had he scored a couple of goals. He has shown genuine promise since arriving in the last transfer window, certainly enough to play a very big role next season. But ideally, you want options up front, and I think Blues will have to address that because Kyogo has not worked out, and Marvin Ducksch does not seem suited to the hurly-burly of the league.
