New Birmingham City transfer update is a serious warning to the Championship | OneFootball

The Blues are set to sign a midfielder from the Premier League as they prepare for life back in the second tier.

Birmingham City are sending a warning to the rest of the Championship with their latest summer transfer business.

Blues have already moved to bring in centre-back Phil Neumann on a free transfer from Hannover, while Alfons Sampsted and Taylor Gardner-Hickman have joined the club on a permanent basis, having spent last season on loan at St Andrew's.

There is no doubt that the club has ambitions of competing at the top end of the Championship table this season after they dominated League One last term, so it should come as no surprise that they have been linked with a few more players with top flight experience as they prepare for life back in the second tier.

Chris Davies' side have been linked with the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Craig Dawson, Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien and Rennes forward Kyogo Furuhashi, while they are also said to be closing in on a deal that would see winger Demarai Gray return to the club.

Football League World exclusively revealed that Blues were set to sign Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle on loan with an option to buy, and that is a deal that will send a serious warning to the rest of the clubs in the division.

Birmingham fire warning to Championship with Doyle signing

Birmingham bringing Doyle to St Andrew's ahead of the 2025/26 campaign is further evidence that they are looking to compete for promotion during their first season back in the Championship.

Newly-promoted Premier League side Sunderland and second-tier rivals Wrexham were reportedly interested in taking the 23-year-old on loan, so the fact that Blues have won the race for his signature ahead of those two clubs in particular should send a warning to the rest of the Championship.

Doyle featured 24 times in the Premier League for Wolves last season, and he has racked up a total of 51 top flight appearances across his time at Molineux and previously with Manchester City, so his experience will be a valuable addition to Chris Davies' midfield department.

He has spent time in the Championship during loan spells at Cardiff City and Sheffield United, with the Blades reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup and winning promotion to the Premier League in 2023 while he was part of the squad.

Birmingham will hope that he can add another promotion from the Championship to his CV next season, and their second-tier rivals should be wary that Blues could be one of the teams to beat next season as they continue to strengthen during the summer transfer window.

Blues are set to compete at the top end of the Championship

Not only are Birmingham making important additions to their squad during the summer transfer window, but the momentum they will carry into next season following their performances in League One last term should also give them an advantage over many of the sides they will come up against.

Blues did not lose once at St Andrew's in the league last season, meaning that the team should be full of confidence in front of their own fans next term, and a good home record often lays the foundations for a successful campaign.

There are plenty of reasons why Birmingham will be a team to keep an eye on in the Championship next season, with the signing of Doyle being just the latest warning to the rest of the clubs at that level.