With Manolo Gabbiadini heading out of Southampton during January and Charlie Austin expected to follow him, speculation surfaced in the last few days that we were interested in bringing in Birmingham City striker Che Adams.
The reports claimed that manager Ralph Hasenhuttl had possibly identified the 22-year-old talent himself as an option he’d like to work with, but the reports were pretty sketchy when it came to real details.
With the January transfer window slamming shut later this evening Sky Sports journalist Pete Hall told the Transfer Talk podcast this week that we remained in the hunt for the youngster and a deal could possibly be done before the end of the evening.
“Southampton are in talks with Birmingham’s Che Adams, who’s scored 14 goals this season, a number of Premier League clubs are interested, so they’re lining up a replacement. It certainly makes sense for Austin to go and, while his stock is still high, there are clubs who could do with a striker like Charlie Austin.”
Claiming we are in talks does add a weight to things here but given Birmingham’s Financial Fair Play problems it is debatable as to whether they’d cash in given his 15 goals in 29 games this year, but a buy with a loan back may grease the deal as Hasenhuttl looks to next season.
Having arrived at Birmingham from Sheffield United for a reported fee of only £2million, if any deal goes through, it will be at a significant profit for them but with our departures this month, that money should be free in the budget if that’s how the gaffer wants to use it.
