Birmingham City must react as Wrexham AFC make transfer move | OneFootball

The Red Dragons are attempting to gazump Blues and a Premier League side in the race for Joe Gelhardt

In recent seasons, Birmingham City and Wrexham have developed one of the EFL's newest 'rivalries', which is, in no small part, down to the two clubs' high-profile American investors.

It is a predicament which, in some ways, has irked the fanbases at both St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park and the Racecourse Ground, as well as elsewhere, but it is hard to ignore at a time when the two sides' fortunes are well-documented way beyond the West Midlands and North Wales.

Both sides will also be hoping to compete for a place in the Championship play-offs this term after Birmingham fell short by nine points, whilst Wrexham missed out on the post-season lottery on the final day after their promotions from League One.

Chris Davies and Phil Parkinson have overseen two intriguing summer transfer windows thus far too, with the bulk of additions to both squads coming in recent weeks after the World Cup's conclusion, and now there are under three weeks for further business to be finalised alongside the commencing of the second tier season this weekend.

However, recent developments involving the Red Dragons mean that those in the West Midlands may be on red alert in the race to sign Joe Gelhardt from Leeds United.

Birmingham City's move for Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt has quietened in recent days

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After a season of mixed fortunes last time out, sections of the Birmingham fanbase have been calling for Davies and his recruitment staff to eye players with strong experience in the Championship, as well as having success in the division.

Dael Fry's free transfer after leaving Middlesbrough set the ball rolling on that front, whilst James Beadle and Jhon Solis returned to B9 after spending at least one half of last season with the club, and Gelhardt would only add further experience and quality despite being just 23 years of age.

The attacker's pre-season has been one spent away from the Whites' first-team fold after continuing to be an outcast in Daniel Farke's plans, having spent the best part of the past 18 months on loan with Hull City, scoring 20 times for the Tigers in 64 games.

The last of those goals secured a spot in the play-off final for the Tigers, who subsequently beat Middlesbrough at Wembley, and since then, speculation over Gelhardt's future has been rife.

And, with Blues' attacking department being reshuffled amid the signing of Luis Vazquez, the departure of Kyogo Furuhashi and further speculation concerning Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield, they have been credited with interest in the Wigan Athletic academy graduate.

However, it was previously claimed that whilst that interest is concrete, the club were in no way close to securing a deal, and talk had quietened in recent days over whether a deal would be finalised.

Wrexham and Hull City have provided further subplots to Joe Gelhardt's transfer saga

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Indeed, the Welsh side are also looking to alter their attacking options, with Ryan Hardie recently seeing a loan switch to Bolton Wanderers confirmed, opening up the door for reinforcements.

Parkinson's side have also been linked with a move for Southampton's Cameron Archer, but it has since been reported that they are looking to swoop for Gelhardt's services for £4.5m, as Leeds look to command a respectable fee whilst also taking into account the fact he is out-of-contract.

However, it has also been claimed that the forward has now made his way up Hull's list of transfer targets late in the window, and that Gelhardt is 'desperate' to reunite with Sergej Jakirovic's team on a permanent basis.

Such a stance doesn't come as the greatest of shocks either, with the attacker stating that it was obvious what he would like to do in terms of resolving his immediate future after City's dramatic promotion in North London at the end of May.

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Of course, Blues have been able to complete several high-profile transfers under Knighthead's ownership, with the American investors going big on selling the 'project', which includes the building of the Powerhouse Stadium and Sports Quarter complex in the years to come.

At 23, Gelhardt is someone who could grow with the club's potential, whilst also being proven at this level as a high-end player given his exploits for Sunderland and Hull on loan.

However, it is clear just how much he is loved in East Yorkshire, as well as those feelings being reciprocated, so a deal at this stage for Birmingham would require several obstacles to be overcome, and potentially those within the club may have to already look at other targets.