Birmingham City predicted to sign "absolutely rapid" wingers - "three or four" needed | OneFootball

FLW's Birmingham City fan pundit has predicted one thing he expects to happen at the club in the summer transfer window.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Birmingham City are preparing for life back in the Championship after winning promotion from League One.

After spending a reported total of around £24 million last summer, including £15 million on Fulham striker Jay Stansfield, Birmingham stormed to the League One title last season as they accumulated a remarkable total of 111 points, which set a new EFL record.

As they gear up for a return to the second tier, Blues owner Tom Wagner has made it clear that the club are targeting back-to-back promotions, and it has been claimed that the Midlands outfit could be one of the biggest spenders outside the Premier League this summer, along with fellow newly-promoted side Wrexham.

Manager Chris Davies has already started rebuilding his squad for the new season, with defenders Grant Hanley and Lee Myung-Jae being released at the end of their contracts, while striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has retired, and loanees Ben Davies, Luke Harris and Kieran Dowell have returned to their parent clubs.

Birmingham are yet to make a new signing this summer, but they are believed to have agreed a deal to sign Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper James Beadle on loan, and that is likely to be the start of a busy few months at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Birmingham City told to strengthen key area as £15 million claim made

When asked to predict one banker he believes will happen this summer, FLW's Birmingham City fan pundit Jason Moore claimed that he expects the club to recruit a few pacy wingers, and he suggested the Blues could potentially bring in a player for more than the £15 million paid for Stansfield last year.

"If you're playing it safe, then we're going to sign some absolutely rapid, pacy wingers," Jason told FLW.

"We're probably going to need about three or four.

"We've got Emil Hansson, but I don't think he'll stay.

"We've got Scott Wright, but he's injured for a very long time.

"I don't think Keshi Anderson is good enough to get us into the Premier League, as good as he was in League One.

"I think we're going to go and really break the market for a couple of wingers.

"We've already been linked with Louie Barry.

"I think we'll get a couple of wingers and one real statement signing.

"Talking about a statement signing, I think there is every chance, listening to what Tom Wagner has said, that if there is a signing out there that is really going to take this squad to the next level, he will spend more money than he did on Jay Stansfield.

"I think he will spend more than £15 million on someone if they have real quality and will be a real statement signing, just like Stansfield was in League One.

"I think Wagner and Knighthead will go out and spend.

"He's already come out and said that if we have to spend, we will.

"We're not against breaking the transfer record again, and I think it is a real possibility."

Jay Stansfield deal may be just the start of Tom Wagner, Birmingham City spending

It is fair to say that the £15 million signing of Stansfield in League One last summer raised more than a few eyebrows, but Birmingham are likely to start spending that kind of money on a more regular basis as they continue to climb the leagues under Wagner's ownership.

After Wagner outlined his goal of achieving back-to-back promotions next season, it seems certain the Blues will be in the market for some high-profile signings this summer, but it remains to be seen how much they would be willing to invest in new wingers.

As Jason says, with Hansson looking likely to leave and Wright expected to be out until the end of the year with a knee injury, Birmingham certainly need to strengthen in the wide areas this summer, and that should be one of Davies' main priorities over the coming weeks.