Birmingham City Must Address Critical Number 10 Role in Upcoming Summer Transfer Window
Birmingham City's place in the Championship is effectively secured for next season, but the club faces a pressing need to bolster a key attacking position. The failure to sign a dedicated number 10 during the January transfer window has left a noticeable gap in the squad, one that manager Chris Davies acknowledges must be filled this summer.
January Window Oversight Leaves Creative Void
It was somewhat surprising that Birmingham City did not prioritize the number 10 role in January, even after the sale of Willum Willumsson to NEC Nijmegen. Instead, the club focused on acquiring a left-back, a centre-back, a midfielder, two wingers, and a striker. Davies revealed that he spent deadline day analyzing options for the number 10 position, a role that has been problematic throughout the season.
Marvin Ducksch has been deployed in the role most frequently, but his output does not align with that of a natural number 10. While Ducksch leads the team with 11 goals in all competitions, he has only two assists and has created just one big chance all season. Jay Stansfield also filled the position earlier, offering more mobility but lacking the creative guile needed.
Manager Davies Highlights Lack of Creativity and Craft
Chris Davies has pointed to a deficiency in guile, creativity, and craft from the number 10 position since Birmingham's return to the Championship. This shortfall has been evident in recent home draws and away defeats, where the team struggled to penetrate opposition defenses with incisive passes or dribbling in tight spaces.
"We've had two strikers," Davies explained. "That's been a thing I've looked at in terms of our goals. We've gone into away games with a very attacking line-up most of the time, we've always had two strikers and two wingers and a lot of attacking intent, but we haven't had enough goals to show for it and that maybe suggests our link hasn't quite been there to create the meaningful chances."
By "link," Davies refers to a player who can receive the ball from midfielders and orchestrate attacks. Neither Ducksch nor Stansfield possesses the ability to consistently perform this role. Stansfield can carry the ball, and Ducksch excels at first-time passes, but neither demonstrates the dribbling, probing, and playmaking qualities of a classic number 10.
Challenges in Finding the Right Fit
Davies noted the difficulty in signing a traditional number 10, as many such players may lack defensive work rate. "I think a classic number 10 these days is quite tricky to sign because the ones that are really pure maybe don't do the defensive work," he said. "I want them to be able to run and press as well. There are ones out there that are able to get it on the half-turn, run and slide people in, but they don't want to run or work hard. You stay away from those, so you're asking for a lot."
He added that Birmingham's midfielders are more focused on defensive duties, emphasizing the need for a creative solution. "A lot of our sixes are sixes, they're very much get the ball off the back four and pass, so it's an area we've had to find solutions in. Marvin and Jay have done it in different ways but it's something we have to look at."
Examples in the Championship and the Path Forward
Successful number 10s do exist in the Championship, such as Jack Rudoni at Coventry, Scott Twine at Bristol City—who has 10 goals and five assists this season—and Finn Azaz at Southampton. However, these players often come at a premium, especially those with proven Championship experience.
For Birmingham City, securing a natural number 10 feels essential. If the club aims for promotion, they cannot afford another season without a proper fit for this crucial position in their 4-2-3-1 formation, particularly for a team that favors possession-based football. The summer transfer window presents a critical opportunity to address this gap and enhance their attacking prowess.
