Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has confirmed the club is already deep into planning for the upcoming January transfer window, with a clear strategy to improve the playing staff.
Early Planning Underway for Critical Window
Speaking to BBCWM Sport, Davies emphasised the importance of forward planning, revealing that discussions about potential ins and outs are already well advanced. The January window opens in just one month's time, and the Blues boss is determined to use it effectively.
"Those conversations are well underway," Davies stated. "Obviously it's very important to plan early, so those conversations are well underway. We really get into that with even more focus in the coming days and weeks, because obviously it's a critical window for us to get right."
A Combination of Signings and Sales Expected
When questioned on whether the club's owners would provide further investment or if player sales would be necessary, Davies indicated a blended approach. He believes there will be "a combination of both" as the club looks to navigate the market.
"I don't know the exact figures and the details," he admitted. "I think we'll get into that as time goes along, but I think the one thing is for sure that it will be a critical window of opportunity for us to make sure that we come out of that window stronger than we went in."
This follows a busy summer at St Andrew's, which saw eleven new arrivals – a mix of six permanent deals and five loan signings, the maximum number of loanees permitted in a match-day squad.
Squad Dynamics and Returning Players
Birmingham currently have a 24-man squad registered for the first half of the Championship season, with clubs allowed a maximum of 25. The club hopes to have long-term absentees Scott Wright and Lee Buchanan fit again for the second part of the campaign.
Their current squad includes 15 homegrown players, meeting and exceeding the league's requirement of eight. This group includes returning academy product Demarai Gray and captain Christoph Klarer.
Davies also reflected positively on the club's recent recruitment, saying, "We feel we've done well in the three windows since I've been here. There's always movement and I think this one's going to be a really important one for us." The coming weeks will determine how Birmingham City shape their squad for the promotion push.
