"Definitely worth cashing in on" - Birmingham City told to sell 23-year-old | OneFootball

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 should look to sell left-back Emmanuel Longelo in this summer's transfer window.

That's according to Football League World's Birmingham City fan pundit, Mike Gibbs, who says that the Blues should only consider keeping the 23-year-old if they are relegated this season.

Longelo down the pecking order at St Andrew's

Initially, Longelo joined Birmingham back in the summer of 2022, when he joined on loan from Premier League side West Ham.

That move was then made permanent in January 2023, with the Blues paying an undisclosed fee, reported to be worth around £400,000, to secure the services of the full-back.

Last season, Longelo was something of a bit-part player for the Midlands club, making 25 appearances in all competitions across the course of his debut campaign at St Andrew's.

Following the signing of another left-back in the form of Lee Buchanan last summer, Longelo has found opportunities even harder to come by this season.

During the current campaign, the former West Ham man has made a total of 20 appearances, with 13 of those being as a starter.

As a result, it appears there may now be some belief among Birmingham fans that a parting of the ways with Longelo could be best if possible, once the market opens again.

Birmingham fan pundit on Longelo future

With the left-back having yet to fully establish himself as a regular starter at St Andrew's, there appears to be some sense about whether he is the right player for the club.

Indeed, Gibbs himself feels that it could be best for the Blues to try and raise some funds through the sale of Longelo in the summer.

When asked whether they should look to sell the 23-year-old in the summer following the emergence of Buchanan at left-back, the Birmingham City fan told Football League World: "I think for me Manny Longelo, definitely worth cashing in on if we can, albeit I don't think we would get a huge amount of money for him.

"I don't think we paid a huge amount of money for him either though really. For me, he's not strong enough a defender at left-back, and he's probably not good enough going forward to be a winger so he's in a bit of a middle ground.

"I think the only reason that would potentially change is if we do get relegated, whether he'd be a really useful asset in League One. "I think we'd see a huge number of people leave and if he was to stay I think he'd be in and around the first-team still. I'd certainly see him playing further forward, maybe left-wing as I said so I think it all depends on league position.

"But personally if I had my choice I'd sell him on and try and get some cash back for him."

As things stand, there are still two years remaining on Longelo's contract with the Blues. If he is not sold, his future at St Andrew's is therefore secure until the end of the 2025/26 season.

In terms of the relegation battle, Birmingham are currently 22nd in the table, one point from safety with the two games to go.

The first of those remaining games is a huge clash with fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town at The John Smith's Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Parting of the ways could be best for all involved

It may make sense for both the club and player if Birmingham were to sell Longelo in the summer transfer window.

We saw last summer that chairman Tom Wagner is ready to back whoever is in charge at St Andrew's with investment and recruitment in the window.

If the club are to do that again this season - which they may feel they need to considering their current position - players will have to be moved on to make space in the squad and wage budget.

Considering his struggles for opportunities since arriving at Birmingham, Longelo may be an obvious candidate to be moved on to make room for those potential new signings.

Indeed, he is going to want to be playing regular first-team football now at his age, so he may feel this is the right thing to do for his career as well.

With that in mind, it may be no huge surprise if Longelo is no longer a Birmingham City player come the start of next season.