Burnley FC may scupper Birmingham City transfer play after Morgan Whittaker blow | OneFootball

Losing out on Morgan Whittaker may harm Birmingham's chances of signing Nathan Redmond

So far, the January transfer window hasn't really seen Burnley sign the players needed to bolster their promotion hopes, as they've focused more on adding experience to the ranks.

The arrivals of Jonjo Shelvey and Ashley Barnes have helped add some promotion-winning experience to the squad, but neither have particularly helped in offsetting the Clarets' issues in the final third, which were again laid bare against Leeds United on Monday night.

Burnley failed to muster a shot-on-target at home to their promotion rivals on Monday, which reinforced the need for attacking recruits in the latter stages of this winter window.

They've already missed out on one of their primary targets as Morgan Whittaker moved to Middlesbrough instead, and that's left Scott Parker's side in a position where they're now looking further down their list of targets.

If they're not happy to bring in someone who evidently won't have been their number one choice, then they do have another option - trust some of their returning wide men to help alleviate the attacking issue.

Nathan Redmond could now be offered a Burnley reprieve following Morgan Whittaker decision

By no means has Nathan Redmond been a regular at Turf Moor since he made the switch in the summer of 2023, but he can perhaps point to a rotten run of injuries as the reason why he hasn't been more involved.

The former Birmingham City wide man is still sidelined up to now, although Parker has suggested he's approaching a return to action, so he could become available for selection again in a matter of weeks.

That could be a timely boost for Burnley, particularly if they miss out on signing a wide man in the remainder of the window, or it could even influence their decision to move for one in the closing stages.

That's not great news for Birmingham City, who are known admirers of Redmond, and would like to take him for the remainder of the season to bolster their own promotion hopes in League One.

Although there hasn't been anything that suggests that Whittaker's failed move has definitively ruled out Redmond making a switch to the Blues, Burnley aren't particularly loaded with quality in wide areas, and Redmond is someone who could offer something if he's fit.

Burnley are desperate for invention in the final third

A 0-0 home draw against Leeds on Monday night was Burnley's eighth goalless draw of the season and highlighted a real need for some invention in the final third, something which Redmond could provide.

Clarets fans have seen enough this season to know that attacking reinforcements are needed, and most could probably live with bringing no one in this month in that area of the pitch if the returning Redmond, Aaron Ramsey and Manuel Benson are nearly available.

Redmond is someone who Burnley fans haven't seen much of since his move, but he's played top-flight football for the majority of his career so has some serious pedigree behind him.

He's inventive in the final third, can beat a man and has an eye for goal, which is exactly what Burnley need, but him actually staying fit is the elephant in the room, as he's been on the bench this season only to get injured again without making an appearance.

If the Clarets do elect to keep him after missing out on Whittaker, that would be a huge blow for Birmingham, who know they'd have just missed the chance to sign a player who would arguably have been the best in League One.