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FLW's Birmingham City fan pundit isn't reading too much into reports linking Jhon Solis with a move to the Premier League

It's been an underwhelming first season back in the Championship for Birmingham City, when taking into account the lofty expectations placed on themselves both in-house and by the wider footballing community.

The Blues have fallen short inside the play-offs this season, but will be using their return to the second-tier as a foundation to build and achieve promotion next season, one year later than owner Tom Wagner would have liked.

One important factor in building towards that happening this summer will be ensuring that Jhon Solis' loan move from Girona is made permanent, something that looks a lot more likely to happen than not.

The 21-year-old arrived from the Spanish side on a loan-to-buy deal back in January for £6.9 million. That purchase would have been mandatory if Birmingham secured promotion, but even without that, the appearances that he's made lead reporters to believe that the Colombian will be at St Andrew's next season - although Chris Davies has since said the club are in talks with City Football Group over a deal for him.

There could be a road block appearing for Blues though, as it's been reported that Premier League duo Leeds United and Brentford are keen to bring the powerhouse midfielder to the top flight in the summer.

Birmingham City tipped to land Jhon Solis permanently and snub Leeds United interest

Solis has been a brilliant addition to the engine room at St Andrew's, even if his presence hasn't single-handedly shot Chris Davies' side into play-off contention.

That being said, he will definitely have a part to play in helping Birmingham achieve their goals of promotion next season. At least, those are the thoughts of FLW's Blues fan pundit, Jason Moore.

Moore believes that if Birmingham cannot land Solis permanently, then the South American midfielder is destined for the Premier League, but he can see a world where he's at St. Andrew's for next season - especially given the two entities are in talks over a move.

"If Solis stayed at Girona, and we didn't have the option, then he would be going straight to a Prem club, and as much as he probably would want to play Premier League football, there's just no way we'd let him go," Moore told FLW.

"Unless they want to come in for £50 million, it's just not going to happen.

"Realistically, unless they come in and say they really, really want him and offer us £20 million, it's just not going to happen; I just don't see it at all.

"I fully expect Jhon Solis to be a Blues player next season, and he'll be trying to bring us up."

Regardless of the money that Premier League sides have, and the clear potential that the 21-year-old has, there won't be many top-flight outfits willing to spend such a fee on someone out of the Championship this summer.

So, it seems that Solis will stay at Birmingham if they can get a deal over the line, which can only prove positive for those at St Andrew's.

Jhon Solis may play a huge part in Birmingham City's promotion push next season

Solis netted his first Birmingham goal in the win over Bristol City in the final home game of the season, and many Blues fans are hoping that's a sign of things to come, rather than a parting gift.

Despite just the one goal, and ultimately, that isn't Solis' game — it was just the second of his career — his impact away from the goal contributions has been there to see at St. Andrew's.

While the team's inconsistencies at the wrong time have written off a play-off possibility, his presence at the heart of the midfield has been the difference between Birmingham being a bottom-half team or a top-half one to finish the season.

Next year, they'll be hoping to go one better, not just to keep pace with the lofty ambitions of the higher-ups at the club, but also to ensure Solis remains happy with his trajectory, as there's clearly Premier League football in the 21-year-old's not-so-distant future.