Exclusive: Birmingham City player closing in on exit as Wigan Athletic lead transfer race | OneFootball

Wigan Athletic are now leading the race for Birmingham City outcast Dion Sanderson, Football League World understands

Birmingham City's Dion Sanderson is edging closer to sealing an exit from St Andrews @ Knighthead Park with Wigan Athletic now leading the race for the defender's services, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The Second City outfit have spent lavishly yet again this summer under Knighthead, who have continued to support the club with a series of ambitious and exciting arrivals after last season's record-setting, title-winning League One campaign with an astonishing points haul of 111.

Birmingham, despite being freshly promoted, have been instated among the favourites for promotion following moves for the likes of Tommy Doyle, Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel. But, having bolstered his squad even further, popular head coach Chris Davies will have to continue his efforts to clear house in the final month of the summer transfer window, with a number of players falling down the pecking order in recent times.

As first revealed by FLW, striker Alfie May made his way to Huddersfield Town in a £1.2 million deal, while Emil Hansson and Bailey Peacock-Farrell have both joined Blackpool in League One after underwhelming debut campaigns with Blues.

Sanderson is just another player who is poised to move out of the exit door in the coming weeks, with Wigan now leading the race for his signature ahead of Birmingham's curtain-raiser at home to promotion rivals Ipswich Town on Friday evening.

Wigan Athletic leading Dion Sanderson, Birmingham City transfer race

FLW has been informed that the Latics have jumped to the head of the queue for the services of the 25-year-old, who is up-for-grabs as Davies shapes his squad in preparation for the new Championship campaign.

Sanderson did have interest from overseas, whereas Derby County - managed by John Eustace - have also been linked to the £1 million-rated defender in a development which came as no surprise after the ex-Blues boss took him on loan at Blackburn Rovers last season shortly before leaving to return to the East Midlands.

But it now appears that the League One club is prepared to offer the former Wolves trainee a new home.

The centre-half has fallen down the pecking order at St Andrew’s with boss Davies bringing in a string of replacements. Phil Neumann has joined on a free transfer from Hannover and Eiran Cashin was imported on a loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion.

That is in addition to Christoph Klarer being in place, and Blues also retain an interest in out-of-favour Rangers stopper Ben Davies, who spent last season on loan in the Second City. Birmingham are even interested in a move for Elfsborg's Terry Yegbe, according to fresh reports in Sweden on Monday morning.

All that means Sanderson has fallen out of the picture and he needs to re-boot his career.

A loan move to Blackburn Rovers failed to work out last term as he agreed to work once more under his boss at St Andrew’s, John Eustace.

However, Wigan chief Ryan Lowe has given several players such as ex-Fulham star Steven Sessegnon and Wrexham talisman Paul Mullin the chance to resurrect their careers and clearly feels he can do likewise with Sanderson.

Birmingham City's Dion Sanderson needs a fresh start - he can get it at Wigan Athletic

Sanderson's career has hit something of a standstill in recent times, as he seldom featured during the first-half of Birmingham's promotion-winning campaign out of the third-tier before enduring a mixed loan spell at Ewood Park.

His stock has gradually fallen ever since he completed a permanent move to join Birmingham from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2023 following two successful loan moves with the club, and it now appears as though the ex-Cardiff City and Sunderland loanee will have to kick-start his career in League One.

That's most likely going to be with Wigan, who could pull off a seriously impressive acquisition if they can get him back to his best. Sanderson still has a lot to offer, but it's best for all parties if he leaves Birmingham sooner rather than later as the club eye successive promotions from League One to the Premier League.