Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has a lengthy to-do list as the club prepares for the return to pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 Championship season. Players are due back at the Elite Performance and Innovation Centre in Henley-in-Arden before the end of June, following a break since the awards dinner on May 3.
Transfer exits and key signing
So far, Blues' only transfer activity has been the permanent signing of Colombian midfielder Jhon Solis, a key target for Davies. However, the club remains active in the market despite the absence of a Director of Football following Craig Gardner's exit. Davies is expected to offload several players quickly, including Marvin Ducksch, who is in talks to leave, and Japanese duo Kanya Fujimoto and Kyogo Furuhashi, who fell out of favour last season. Jack Robinson's future is also uncertain, while loanees Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Scott Wright may be surplus to requirements.
Find a new goalkeeper
Davies prioritised goalkeepers when he arrived two summers ago, and this year is no different. With James Beadle returning to Brighton, Blues need a reliable number one. Available Championship stoppers include Illan Meslier, Radek Vitek, and Anthony Patterson, and the club must ensure they sign the right fit.
Develop new playing style
In the final six matches of last season, Davies shifted to a more direct style, centered around 6ft 4in target man August Priske. This approach benefited defenders Phil Neumann and Bright Osayi-Samuel, who struggled with possession-based play. Davies pledged to coach this new style during pre-season, focusing on transitions and direct play. “The emphasis of training, transitions, first pass forward, that type of work to make sure we’re utilising counter-attacks even better than we do and just being a bit more direct with our play,” he said.
Improve set piece output
Set pieces are crucial in modern football, and Blues ended last season with 16 goals for and 17 against from set pieces. Davies aims to make that differential positive, aided by deliveries from left-backs Alex Cochrane and Kai Wagner. A set piece coach has been in the works since February.
Add to the backroom team
Davies may add a seasoned coach to his staff, alongside assistant Ben Petty (youth development) and early-career coaches Tom Huddlestone and Jonathan Grounds. This would provide experience in high-stakes decision-making during games.
