Exclusive: David Prutton issues Birmingham City spending warning | OneFootball

David Prutton believes Birmingham City can contend in the Championship next season even without spending lots of cash

Sky Sports pundit David Prutton feels that Birmingham City will have to be wary of spending too much ahead of a possible Championship season after last summer's record-breaking transfer window.

Still, he does not rule out the possibility of seeing more money being spent next summer to improve the squad if the budget allows.

Chris Davies' Blues hold a healthy lead atop League One, and all signs are pointing to an immediate return to the second tier after they were relegated from the Championship in the 2023/24 season.

Birmingham City oversaw a squad overhaul last summer, spending around £20-£25 million in the 2024 summer transfer window - as reported by The Athletic. That figure broke the record for the most spent in a single window in the third tier, as owners Knighthead Capital and chairman Tom Wagner wasted no time in fulfilling their first step on the road to reaching the Premier League by their 2026 target.

To reach that goal, however, Birmingham will have to replicate what Ipswich Town recently achieved by securing back-to-back promotions to the top flight - and they may have to spend more to do so.

Financial practicalities have to be looked at, according to David Prutton

In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former Nottingham Forest midfielder, David Prutton warned that this season's spending may have an impact on Birmingham's budget next season.

"The question about Birmingham City spending big in the summer...the fact that they managed to spend money dropping out of the Championship is a big factor," he said.

"Obviously, that doesn't make it a straightforward job that they would get promoted. They're doing a wonderful job under a very talented young manager.

"I think the ability to spend big regarding budgets when they come back up to the Championship is something they will keep a keen eye on, but it is an ambitious football club now with ambitious owners.

"They won't want to spend too long in the Championship, and they'll have eyes potentially on [replicating] what Ipswich Town did, bouncing up the divisions. Financial practicalities do need to be adhered to though."

David Prutton doesn't rule out more Birmingham City spending if finances allow it

The big price tags will always be the focus, but the recruitment at Birmingham City last summer has been nothing short of exceptional.

Birmingham have looked a class above the rest all season, especially when playing at home, and many have that down to a squad which is above the standard level in League One.

It's clear that the money has been invested well, with the majority of the players at Chris Davies' disposal - and Davies as a manager - being at least mid-table Championship quality.

Therefore, David Prutton feels that this current Birmingham City side "is at least prepared to assert itself in the Championship as it is now."

However, he acknowledges the ambition in the boardroom at St Andrew's Stadium and doesn't rule out the possibility of even more investment into the squad, if the budget allows.

He concluded: "Of course, if there's ability and room within the finances to tool up and go again, my word you'll get the feeling that they will."

The other 23 teams which find themselves in the Championship next season will be hoping this won't be the case, but it seems almost inevitable now that Birmingham City will be gracing the top flight for the first time since 2010/11 very soon.