Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has declared himself satisfied with the club's transfer business, confirming the squad has been strengthened with seven new signings and that the window closed with the right players on board. The final addition was Canadian international Liam Millar, who arrived from Hull City on deadline day to fill the vacancy in the wide department.
A proposed deal for Mohammed Fuseini fell through, and Blues did not secure a new number 10, but Davies appeared content when questioned about the club's activity following the 1-1 draw with Southampton.
Davies on a busy window and squad profile
“It’s been a busy few months,” Davies said. “We haven’t signed as many players as we have in previous transfer windows, but there’s been a lot of activity that’s gone on behind the scenes trying to find the right players that want to come for the right reasons that can really help us.”
“It’s always a challenge for every club and we’re no different, making sure we sign players that are right for us basically and Liam is a good example of that. Thankfully that window is shut now and we can focus on pulling this squad even tighter now and pushing on.”
Asked whether the squad has improved from last season and is now capable of mounting a play-off challenge, Davies added: “We look a different squad now. Away from the individuals, the profile of the team that I was adamant around from January onwards was height, power, strength, speed, physicality – with quality of course.”
Millar coup and the Ducksch plan
Millar is being viewed as a coup by Blues' hierarchy after they beat off competition from several Championship clubs to sign him. The 26-year-old achieved promotion with Hull City last season and arrives fresh from scoring a Premier League winner against Coventry last weekend.
Davies said: “He’s a player that I’ve wanted in every transfer window so far, I’ve always talked about him and admired him. I’ve watched him a lot over the years. I love his energy, his pace, he can break quickly but he’s got good quality. He can score a goal. I just think he’s got the characteristics that we need in a winger. I was really pleased that he chose to come here because he had some good options actually and we had to do some convincing.”
With no number 10 signed, Marvin Ducksch is now needed by Davies. Ducksch, 32, was expected to leave the club this summer and there are still countries whose transfer windows remain open, but Blues would be light up top if they sanctioned a move.
“Yes,” Davies said when asked if he wants to keep Ducksch now. “There’s been a lot of talking around him, but he’s been training and working well, waiting for his opportunity. That will be the plan moving forward (to keep him).”
Davies also noted the squad's growing cohesion: “We’ve got a continuity there as well, that’s the other side I’m noticing. I’m noticing their connections, they know each other better and that’s helping us on the pitch. We’re looking forward now to attacking this league. It’s been a tough start with the fixtures we’ve had but I’m really pleased with how we’ve gone about it.”
