Birmingham City will have to spend some money to build a team in Wayne Rooney’s image.
The new manager is currently making do with players signed for John Eustace, which inevitably means that forthcoming transfer windows will be used to transform the make-up of the squad. A clear-out might have to wait until next summer when 12 players are out of contract, but there could be room for a deal or two in January – on the condition that Blues remain within the Financial Fair Play parameters.
Just two weeks ago Rooney admitted there are players he would like to sign. While the manager can’t be expected to divulge those names publicly, we can all hazard a guess at the positions Blues need to prioritise.
Come next summer, if out-of-contract duo Scott Hogan and Lukas Jutkiewicz are not retained, and Jay Stansfield returns to parent club Fulham, Blues will not have a senior striker on their books. The lesser spotted Tyler Roberts will be the closest thing to a centre-forward.
Signing a new striker before Blues are left without one at all would make sense. Players who are capable of scoring goals in the Championship don’t come cheap though, and they aren’t all that easy to find.
Blues are well stocked in most other positions, but in order for Rooney’s system to work a new midfielder wouldn’t go amiss. Whilst Blues have ample defensively-minded types, Rooney is missing a ball-playing midfielder who can start attacks.
In Max Bird, Rooney played his part in developing one at Derby County. Bird broke through at Pride Park whilst Rooney was still a player and learnt some tricks of the trade from one of England’s all-time greats.
He excelled under Rooney the manager during Derby’s troubled 2021/22 campaign, which eventually resulted in relegation thanks to two separate points deductions. To everyone’s surprise, Bird has stayed at Pride Park and played in League One after three seasons of Championship football before his 22nd birthday.
Now 23, Derby might not be able to hang on to Bird for much longer. Hull City – who are managed by ex-Derby coach Liam Rosenior – tried to recruit him in the summer and other Championship clubs are lurking. Their causes will be helped when Bird enters the final six months of his contract in January.
Bird might have the qualities that Rooney wants, not just technically but his mentality too. Speaking about Bird two years ago, Rooney said: “He is a player I know wants to learn, and that is great to see in a young lad. He wants to learn and does everything the right way to make sure he gets the best out of his career.
