Exclusive: Chris Davies omits Birmingham City stars from pre-season squad - including £1.5m man | OneFootball

The Birmingham boss has left a host of first-team players out of his pre-season squad in Portugal, FLW understands.

Chris Davies has signalled his intent to re-shape his squad at Birmingham City after leaving a clutch of players out of the club’s pre-season tour to Portugal, Football League World has exclusively been informed.

The first-team squad jetted off to the southern Iberian Peninsula at the weekend, after a whirlwind few days in which the Blues announced the arrival of six new players in as many days.

James Beadle, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kyogo Furuhashi, Kanya Fujimoto, Tommy Doyle and Demarai Gray all changed their colours to royal blue in a whirlwind few days.

But there will be victims of the sudden import - and those were seen when the players boarded the plane.

Several players will not be surprised to learn that they would be on the outside, looking in.

Dion Sanderson among handful of Birmingham City players left out of pre-season squad

Former club captain Dion Sanderson - who spent half of last term on loan at Blackburn Rovers - is one of them, Football League World has exclusively been told.

Fellow defender Manny Longelo - who was also shipped out to relegated Cambridge United on loan last summer - is another who has been left to complete his pre-season at the club’s Henley-in-Arden training base, and ex-Leeds United forward Tyler Roberts - who is midway through a four-year deal - is also on the list to be shipped out of the club.

He was taken on loan by Northampton Town last term, and it is likely Brum will have to swallow a huge chunk of his wages if they are to make that situation a reality.

However, the two signings that might raise eyebrows are Alfons Sampsted and Emil Hansson. The duo appear to be up for grabs - either on loan or for sale.

Both have been at St Andrew’s for just one season. Interestingly, Brum have only just turned Sampsted’s deal into a permanent one - he joined on loan from Dutch outfit FC Twente 12 months ago.

The Icelandic international has found life difficult at St Andrew’s with Ethan Laird preferred at right-back. When the ex-Manchester United trainee has been injured, however, skipper Krystian Bielik has stepped into the void.

While Hansson is now on the outside, looking in, after Brum moved to sign Furuhashi. Davies can also call upon Scott Wright, Keshi Anderson and Gray in wide areas. Osayi-Samuel is also an option after starting out his career at QPR as a wide player.

Norwegian-born Hansson, who also joined 12 months ago from Heracles in a £1.5m deal, was used sparingly by Davies last year as Anderson cemented a spot in the side on the left-hand side of the Blues’ attack.

A host of Birmingham City's new signings have linked up with the squad in Portugal

However, several of the new boys are in attendance in Portugal.

Beadle, fresh from his heroics with England’s Under-21 team in Slovakia, made the trip, as did Wolves’ loanee Doyle - a deal which Football League World exclusively revealed was happening.

Furuhashi also made the flight, although it is understood he arrived 24 hours after the main party.

Gray was not among those sweating as fitness tests got underway as he has only just finished his campaign, having represented Jamaica at the Gold Cup during the summer and been playing club football with Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq up until the end of May.