Alfie May opens up on "unbelievable" Huddersfield Town interest before Birmingham City move | OneFootball

Alfie May has opened up on how close he came to joining Huddersfield Town in the summer

Alfie May has opened up on just how close he was to joining Huddersfield Town after scoring Birmingham City's winner against the Terriers on Tuesday evening.

The frontman completed a move to the West Midlands from Charlton Athletic for a reported fee in the region of £775,000, with Huddersfield having expressed a keen interest in his signature.

May had finished as League One's top scorer in the previous campaign, having found the back of the net on 23 occasions for the Addicks following his move from Cheltenham Town.

He spent three highly productive seasons at Cheltenham and was managed by current Huddersfield boss Michael Duff for two of those, including his 23-goal haul during the 2021/22 League One campaign.

May, who was one of a number of high-profile recruits during an ambitious summer transfer window at St Andrews @ Knighthead Park, has hit the ground running so far for Chris Davies' side.

Despite the blockbuster £15 million deadline day arrival of Jay Stansfield from Fulham, May has retained his importance and currently sits on five league goals, with only Mansfield Town striker Lee Gregory having converted more strikes after eight encounters.

Indeed, May and Stansfield combined to score the only goal of the match last night. Stansfield set up the 31-year-old for the match-winning goal after 63 minutes, ensuring Birmingham's seventh straight victory in league action.

Alfie May opens up on Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town transfer decision

Following the affair, May revealed that he was on the verge of reuniting with Duff in West Yorkshire before Blues came calling.

When asked about how close he came to sealing the switch to Huddersfield, May told the press: "Very, if I’m totally honest.

"The interest they showed me straight away was unbelievable and Michael Duff, as one of my old managers, made me the player that I am.

"It was a difficult decision. It’s football. There’s no hard feelings - hopefully. I haven’t spoken to Michael Duff yet. That time will come.

"As a player, when you get interest you hear little things, and Birmingham came in for me late notice. It’s one of those things that happens."

Alfie May's Huddersfield Town snub is already paying off

It was a bold decision from May at the time, given that Duff had really provided lift-off to his career during their days together at Cheltenham.

Of course, Huddersfield themselves played in the Championship only last season and had been widely tipped among the promotion favourites for the new campaign.

That has not quite transpired just yet for the Terriers, who find themselves all the way down in 15th position amid seven defeats from their last eight matches across all competitions. Five of those have came in League One action which will doubtless be a concern for Duff, although you would back them to pick up their form as the season goes on.

Birmingham, however, have already shot to the summit of the third-tier table with a five-point margin over second-placed Wrexham, who they defeated 3-1 on home soil last month.

Rather unsurprisingly, Blues appear poised to make an immediate return to the Championship and it could well come at a canter, too. With that in mind, May will surely feel vindicated in his decision to snub Huddersfield's advanced interest to sign on with Birmingham at the last minute.