Leeds United man should be among those on Birmingham City's transfer shortlist right now | OneFootball

Blues have been a dominant force in League One so far this season, and will be looking to strengthen further in January.

Birmingham City have been superb in League One so far in 2024/25, and have made the most of a very successful summer transfer window and look to be on their way back to the Championship.

Blues wrote their own headlines on deadline day in August, bringing in Jay Stansfield on a permanent deal for over £10 million, according to BirminghamLive, from Premier League side Fulham.

While it can be said that their attacking force is the best in the division, there is possibly a lack of defensive depth, and if injuries start to mount, then Birmingham may have to field players in unnatural positions in an attempt to keep up their title-winning ambitions.

Football League World has taken a look at three players who should be on Chris Davies' transfer shortlist in January, as his side look to have a record-breaking season in League One.

Phil Neumann

A player on Birmingham's radar in the summer, Phil Neumann stayed at German club Hannover 96 despite interest from the West Midlands.

A towering defender, his experience at both right-back and centre-back could see Blues make another gamble in January, and with his contract set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, he could be picked up for a cheaper price than originally anticipated.

Neumann is now 27 and is just starting to enter his peak. He has played nearly the entirety of his career in the Bundesliga 2, and could prove to be an invaluable member of Davies' squad with his consistency and perhaps surprising calmness with the ball at his feet.

It will not be a walk in the park to try to attract the defender to St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, with Hertha Berlin reportedly interested in the services of Neumann, but with the exciting project on offer in England with Birmingham, they may just be able to twist his arm.

It would not be surprising to see Davies and his coaching staff attempt to bring the German in on a free at the start of next season, with clubs able to talk to players whose contracts are due to expire in the summer from January 1.

Sam Byram

At 31, Sam Byram's Leeds United career is drawing to a close, and like Neumann, his contract is set to expire at the end of the campaign.

Vastly experienced at both Premier League and Championship level, the versatile full-back could be an excellent addition to Birmingham's defensive team, and he'd be able to provide fantastic cover if Alfons Sampstead is unavailable for a significant period.

Ethan Laird has been out for over a month with an ankle injury, and while he is slowly coming back to full fitness, it's an issue that has shown the lack of depth in the right-back position at St. Andrew's.

The Leeds defender has struggled for minutes this season, and he could be looking for an early exit from his contract. With over 190 appearances to his name in the second tier, Byram could provide the added knowledge and cover needed to take Blues back to where they were last year.

However, there could be worries that his lack of recent game-time could mean a lack of match sharpness, and it is a potential move that may be seen as a last resort.

Haydon Roberts

Similar to the right-hand side of defence, the left-back position is relatively lightly filled at Birmingham, and bringing in a player with the quality that Haydon Roberts possesses in January could be a huge statement to not only teams in League One, but also those in the Championship.

After an extremely successful loan spell with Derby County in League One two years ago, the 22-year-old has struggled for time on the pitch since completing a permanent move to Bristol City from Brighton & Hove Albion at the start of last season.

He has found himself as a bit of an outsider in 2024/25, despite making 23 appearances last season, and could potentially be seeking an exit from Ashton Gate if he continues to watch on from the sidelines.

Roberts has struggled with fitness issues in the past, and while that could play on the minds of Davies and his coaching team, he did prove at the end of 2023/24 his resiliency to come back following an extended period away from the matchday squad.

Alex Cochrane has been superb at left-back in League One for Birmingham, but with Lee Buchanan's injury issues, there is a huge lack of cover if the 24-year-old finds himself out for an extended period of time.

Roberts can provide competition for Cochrane, as well as more third tier experience as Blues look to return to the Championship in an emphatic fashion.