Birmingham City eyeing late transfer swoop for £8m-rated Southampton player | OneFootball

Birmingham City are interested in signing Will Smallbone on loan from Southampton.

Birmingham City are keen to add Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone to their ranks on deadline day, who was previously a target of fellow newly-promoted Championship side Wrexham AFC.

The Blues have been busy in the transfer market already this summer, spending big as they look to make a push for back-to-back promotions, which would see them return to the Premier League for the first time since 2011.

Chris Davies is looking to add reinforcements to his midfield unit, and has identified out-of-favour Southampton star Smallbone as a potential signing at the end of the transfer window, according to the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan.

Smallbone has been sidelined for the start of the Championship season after sustaining a calf injury in pre-season, but is seemingly unlikely to be in Will Still's plans this season, with academy product Moses Sesay being favoured over him in friendlies.

Birmingham City chasing Will Smallbone transfer agreement

Smallbone played a crucial part in Southampton's promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs two years ago, but it seems that the Irishman won't be helping the Saints secure another top-flight return this season.

The 25-year-old is out-of-favour under new boss Still, as he begins to revolutionise his squad that he hopes can take the Hampshire side back to the pinnacle of English football.

This has seen Smallbone put on the chopping block ahead of transfer deadline day, and Birmingham have now entered the picture as a potential destination for the midfielder, according to a fresh update from Keegan.

The journalist has reported that the Midlands club are in for Smallbone, with a loan deal between themselves and Southampton being the most likely outcome of a deal this late in the window.

Smallbone was the subject of a recent £7.5 million bid from fellow newly-promoted side Wrexham, but he could now be on his way to their Hollywood rivals before the clock hits 7pm.

Last month, Football League World exclusively revealed that Southampton value the talented midfielder at £8 million, and it will be interesting to see whether Blues try to knock down that price in a bid to land his services in time.

Southampton's Will Smallbone could help Birmingham City's promotion push

The League One champions are looking to make back-to-back promotions this season, and have added plenty of quality to the squad to try and ensure that their dreams become a reality.

As mentioned, Smallbone is a promotion winner already after Southampton won the Championship play-off final in 2024, where he played a key role in the squad's success, notching seven goals and four assists in 46 outings.

To bring someone with that experience and pedigree into an already strong squad will be a huge boost for Davies' side, as they need players who've experienced the hardships of a promotion battle if they are to achieve their target.

Whilst it may only be a temporary switch, it could be a stroke of genius from Birmingham, who will be taking advantage of the fact that the new Southampton boss doesn't seem to favour the 25-year-old.