Jude Bellingham tipped to return to Birmingham City - "If Tom Wagner can get his way" it could happen | OneFootball

FLW's Birmingham Fan Pundit believes that Jude Bellingham will return to St Andrew's one day, but they need top-flight football.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

In the summer of 2020, Birmingham City opted to retire the number 22 shirt after the sale of youngster Jude Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund for a fee believed to be in the region of £25 million.

Since then, Bellingham have gone on to establish himself as one of the world’s very best players with over 100 appearances for Borussia Dortmund before becoming a ‘Galactico’ at Real Madrid.

It has been a frustrating start to the campaign for Bellingham with Los Blancos due to surgery on a nagging shoulder injury, but he is working his way back to full fitness. Recently it has emerged he has the postcode of Birmingham’s ground, St Andrew’s, on his boots, giving a nod to his roots despite the fact he's now one of the most high-profile names in the game.

The England international is someone beloved by Blues supporters and there will likely be a hope that he returns to the second city one day during his playing career.

If Jude Bellingham ever return to Birmingham City

It is a lot more common in other countries but for a star of the England national team to have never played in the Premier League is quite bizarre, and there is a good chance he never does play in the division.

However, FLW’s Birmingham fan pundit, Jason Moore, believes that Bellingham will return at some stage, and he is hopeful it could be with City meaningfully challenging and being competitive in the top-flight.

Speaking about Bellingham’s boot design, Jason says: "I absolutely love it and, to be honest, I’ve not seen one Blues fan think its ‘cringe’ or anything like that.

"To be honest, it just shows how much he does love the club, and it is brilliant to see.

"It probably gives us a bit of justice in terms of when we retired the shirt and people were taking the mick out of us for that, because he really does love the club and really does remember where he came from because it means more us retiring his shirt."

With regards to Bellingham potentially returning, Jason believes: "I think he will come back at some point, but I only think if that is if we’re in the Premier League.

"If Tom Wagner can get his way and we’re competing at the top end of the Premier League, not for titles obviously as that would be absolutely ridiculous and I don’t think we’re ever going to be there, but competing to try and get into either the UEFA Europa League or the UEFA Europa Conference League, I know we’re clutching at straws, but then I can definitely see Jude coming back.

"If not then it would have to be in his late years when he comes back for one stint for like a year or two."

Slow start for Birmingham City and Chris Davies

In order to eventually establish themselves as the stalwarts of the Premier League that they believe the size of the club should be, Birmingham are going to have to get motoring in what is an open Championship this campaign.

The Blues have struggled for consistency at the start of this season after a record-breaking League One title-winning campaign last year was followed by another major summer of spending and transfer activity.

Birmingham have struggled for consistency in the second-tier and there is pressure growing on manager Chris Davies from sections of the fanbase.

Birmingham and Tom Wagner’s ambitions are extremely high and there will be a belief that they can eventually get back to being a competitive side in the Premier League.