New claim emerges on whether Che Adams could return to Birmingham City this summer | OneFootball

Torino striker Che Adams had been linked with a return to Birmingham City but the Scotland international is not expected to leave Italy.

Following their promotion to the second-tier this season, Birmingham City are expected to embark upon a busy summer transfer window in which the Blues build a squad capable of challenging for promotion to the Premier League, but it appears that a move for Che Adams is not on the cards.

Chris Davies’ side romped to the League One title this season, setting a new all-time EFL points record of 111 in their 46 games after a summer of heavy spending in 2024, following their surprise relegation.

Chairman and co-owner Tom Wagner has already hinted at the fact that the Second City outfit will be able to spend big to compete with those in the Championship and it is set to be an exciting window for Birmingham supporters.

However, one man previously linked with a return to St Andrew's, Torino striker Che Adams, is not actually on their list of targets for this summer, according to BirminghamLive.

No fairytale Birmingham return for Adams yet

In the last couple of weeks, since their promotion was confirmed, Adams had been linked with a return to Birmingham, with suggestions that they would table a big-money move for the forward, who has two years left on his deal in Italy.

Instead, Birmingham Live have suggested that he is not among their list of targets for this summer, despite the fact that the striker reportedly still has 'admirers' at the club.

The report suggests that he doesn't feature on their 'summer wish-list' being worked on by Director of Football Craig Gardner, who played with Adams at Birmingham, and the recruitment team.

Adams is enjoying an impressive season abroad with Serie A side Torino with the Scotland international, like a few other Scots such as Josh Doig, Lewis Ferguson, Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay, as well as Aaron Hickey before that, adapting well to life in Italy.

Adams departed Southampton on a free transfer at the end of his contract with the Saints last summer, having helped Russell Martin’s side to promotion via the play-offs in the Championship.

He has since scored nine goals and provided three assists in 33 appearances for a Torino side that sit firmly in the middle-of-the-table in the Italian top-flight under the management of Antonio Conte disciple, Paolo Vanoli.

Adams’ Championship firepower is maybe what Birmingham need

In his third season at St Andrew's, Adams notched 22 Championship goals in 46 appearances for City, earning him a £15 million move to then-Premier League stalwarts Southampton in the summer of 2019.

That scoring prowess in the Championship is something that Birmingham will be keen on adding to their squad this summer. Lukas Jutkiewicz is retiring, leaving Blues without a necessarily prolific target man beyond Lyndon Dykes. Alfie May has never played above League One, and Jay Stansfield, who scored just ten goals from open play in the third-tier last season, following his £15 million move from Fulham, will carry a lot of responsibility. Stansfield did notch 12 goals in 43 appearances in the Championship whilst on loan with Birmingham in the 2023/24 season, showcasing he's got the talent to step up a level.

Meanwhile, Birmingham are expected to be favourites to bring in Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku, with Football League World exclusively revealing that the Ghana international will receive an offer of £30,000 per week from Blues.

They have also been linked with out-of-contract Swansea City centre-back Harry Darling, as well as permanent moves for Rangers loanees Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell. They have already signed German centre-back Phil Neumann from Hannover on a free transfer, who signed a pre-contract agreement with the club in January.