Birmingham City are on the verge of completing their second signing of the January transfer window, with a deal for Girona midfielder Jhon Solis now in its final stages.
Midfielder granted leave to seal Blues switch
The 21-year-old Colombian is no longer training with his La Liga club as all parties work to push the transfer over the line. Solis has been identified as the top target to strengthen the heart of Chris Davies's squad, following the collapsed move for Gambian winger Abdoulie Manneh earlier this week.
Girona manager Michel has explicitly allowed the player time away to finalise his move to the English Championship. "Solís' departure means having very few solutions in midfield," Michel admitted. "It is very important to improve the position of the central midfielder in this winter market."
Girona's pressing need to complete the deal
The urgency from the Spanish side is a key driver in the negotiations. Girona need to offload Solis to free up a crucial foreign player slot, which is required to register new signing Claudio Echeverri. The Argentine midfielder has joined on loan from sister club Manchester City but cannot be listed until Solis departs.
This administrative necessity has created a positive dynamic in talks, with Birmingham City hoping to have the player registered in time for their upcoming Championship fixture. Blues are aiming to seal the deal ahead of their match against Swansea City on Saturday evening.
What Solis will bring to St Andrew's
The acquisition is viewed as essential for bolstering a midfield that has appeared thin in recent matches. Solis will provide manager Chris Davies with a fresh and much-needed option, adding depth and quality to the core of the team.
His absence from Girona's matchday squad is already evident; he did not feature in their 1-0 win over Osasuna last weekend and has been excused from training ahead of their Friday night clash with Espanyol. All signs now point towards a swift conclusion to this transfer saga, giving Birmingham City a significant mid-season boost.
