"Writing is on the wall" - Exclusive: Birmingham City attacker tipped for St Andrew's exit | OneFootball

Joe Jacobson has weighed in on Tyler Roberts' future at Birmingham after a year out on loan.

Joe Jacobson expects Birmingham City to part ways with Tyler Roberts on a permanent basis in the summer following his parent club's promotion back to the Championship.

The forward was sent out on loan to Northampton Town in the summer transfer window after Blues were relegated to League One, but he has struggled for form with the Cobblers and any hopes of returning to the first team at St. Andrew's look to be dashed.

At 26, time looks to be running out for Roberts at the top of the EFL, and finding a permanent move to League One or League Two may just have to be his next challenge, especially when Chris Davies' side are progressing in a direction away from him.

Birmingham's focus will already be on the transfer window and off-loading those will not make too much of an impact in the Championship and, unfortunately, for the Northampton loanee, that may just be him.

Jacobson weighs in on Roberts' future at Birmingham

With goals hard to come by throughout the forward's career, and Blues having an incredibly strong strike force, these next couple of months may just be Roberts' last as a player contracted to the West Midlands outfit.

Davies will be looking to add more quality to his starting XI in the summer, and this includes up front, despite the performances of Alfie May and Jay Stansfield this season.

Ex-Wycombe Wanderers ace turned EFL Pundit, Joe Jacobson, has spoken exclusively to Football League World about the Birmingham forward's future at the club after a difficult couple of years.

He told FLW: "I think the writing is on the wall for Tyler Roberts at Birmingham. It hasn't really worked out there.

"There's a good player in there, but I think the way Birmingham are going and the direction they're going in is going to be way past Roberts. I think in the summer they’ll probably look at acquiring some top-end Championship low-end Premier League players."

Jacobson continued: "That's the ambition of the club. They want to get to the Premier League as quickly as possible. Last summer they were recruiting good Championship players to play in League One. I think this summer they're going to try and recruit players that are ready for the Premier League.

"I'm already hearing reports that they're one of the favourites for promotion to the Premier League next season. So, I think if Roberts wasn't going to play for them this season and he's down at Northampton, I can't see any way back for him at Birmingham. But there's a good player there for someone to take."

Roberts' record in the Championship is disappointing

Roberts has been used by Northampton in a multitude of positions this season across the front line, but it is clear to see that he does not have the quality in front of goal that Birmingham will need next season.

His record in the Championship is particularly poor, and Davies will be hesitant to give him an opportunity in the team in 2024/25.

He has struggled with both Leeds United and Queens Park Rangers as well as Blues in the division in the past, and his lack of threat in the final third will restrict him to the third tier if he does seek a move in the summer.

Birmingham are in a new era, and supporters will be keen to see more established stars walk through the door when the window opens, and the consequence of that is that the likes of Roberts will be sold.