"Very pivotal" - Pundit backs Birmingham City to seal Burnley FC transfer agreement | OneFootball

The winger has been linked with a potential return to his hometown club

Carlton Palmer believes that a loan swoop for former winger Nathan Redmond could prove pivotal in Birmingham City's promotion aims.

The landscape of Blues has drastically changed since Redmond departed his hometown club to join Norwich City for a £3.2m fee back in the summer of 2014.

However, at 30 years of age, the winger who has since gone on to feature for Southampton and Besiktas, has fallen way down the pecking order at his latest club, Burnley, since being acquired on a free transfer after leaving the Süper Lig giants last summer.

The Clarets are currently aiming for a first-time promotion back to the Premier League under Scott Parker, whilst Birmingham, under the ambitious Knighthead Capital Management, have invested heavily in the hope of making an immediate Championship return.

Therefore, a loan move for the experienced wide man, as reported by the Sun, would only showcase their intent in the third tier promotion race once again.

Carlton Palmer understands the logic behind potential Birmingham City, Nathan Redmond reunion

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, the aforementioned Palmer believes that a loan move for the man who is out of contract at Turf Moor next June, makes complete sense for all parties, and could be pivotal for Blues in the short-term.

"Birmingham City sit second in League One. They have a game in hand on Wycombe which could take them to the top of the league," he began. "They are plotting to get back to the Championship at the first attempt."

"Birmingham have spent big money, and they intend to spend big money again to get back to the Championship."

"One player they are interested in signing is former player, Nathan Redmond," he explained. "Nathan is at Burnley, he's not playing, he's experienced, he's 30 years old. He's hardly had any gametime at all with Burnley."

"His contract expires at the end of the season," Palmer added. "So, effectively, it would be a six-month trial period for him if he went to Birmingham."

"I think it would be a good move for Birmingham as they look to add experience to the squad," the pundit stated.

"It's one of those situations where you can take the player until the end of the season. Hopefully, you can get promoted at the end of the season, and you can assess the situation from there, but you haven't got a fee to pay for him."

"So, it could be a good bit of business, and you're not locked into the player for the following season," Palmer continued.

"I think it could be a very pivotal move for Birmingham City as they look to get promotion," the 59-year-old declared.

"He's well out-of-favour, he's not going to get a new contract at Burnley, so it would make a lot of sense."

"Birmingham City will face competition from other clubs at that level for his services. But, we'll have to wait and see, because, maybe a club will come in and offer him a contract, and Burnley won't stand in his way with his contract being up at the end of the season."

"But, it would be a good move for Birmingham City, who have already spent a lot of money in League One thus far," he concluded.

Nathan Redmond would add vital attributes to this Birmingham City side

As well as getting his career back on track at a club so close to his heart, having made 82 appearances and scoring a total of nine goals for the club after progressing through the Wast Hills academy base as a teenager, Redmond would add some much-needed attributes to Chris Davies' side.

Redmond's directness and experience on either flank could be a difference-maker in the second half of the season, as at times, the wings have proven to be a dilemma for Davies, with Jay Stansfield and Willum Willumsson at times having to feature out wide, away from their natural 'number 10' or centre-forward position.

Of course, there may be some reservations over the 30-year-old's availability, having been sidelined for a lengthy period through a hamstring injury, before only making three appearances on Parker's substitute bench since his appointment.

But, given his connections to Birmingham, as well as the chance of earning a potential permanent deal either at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park or elsewhere, it wouldn't be a shock if Redmond jumped at the opportunity to further cement his legacy in the West Midlands.