Demarai Gray will wince as Birmingham City rival Derby County for Ipswich Town transfer | OneFootball

The Jamaican international already saw his gametime reduce towards the end of last season

Birmingham City's second straight season in the Championship hasn't got off to the ideal start, and the pressure has yet again started to mount on Chris Davies as a result.

There has been plenty of noise coming out of St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in recent years regarding the ambition which Blues have over ending their lengthy exile from the Premier League, but that hasn't exactly appeared to be the case in pre-season and the start of the competitive 2026/27 campaign.

After ending last season in 10th, which was a mixed result in itself as many expected Birmingham to challenge for the play-offs, whilst it was still the club's highest finish since 2016, there hasn't exactly been a barrage of transfer activity in B9, which has left many concerned heading into the final stretch of the transfer window.

Only six additions have been made so far, but the one obvious trend is that only one of those - Luis Vazquez - has added to Davies' attacking department in terms of depth and potential quality, given he has only played limited minutes so far.

However, in what could potentially be an impressive way to end the transfer window, the club have been linked with a move for Anis Mehmeti of Ipswich Town, although not all of Davies' squad may like the signing on an individual basis.

Birmingham City enter ambitious three-way race for Anis Mehmeti

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Mehmeti, 25, has only been with the Tractor Boys for a matter of months, having arrived from Bristol City for a cut-price £3m fee in January after impressing significantly at Ashton Gate.

Under Kieran McKenna, the Albanian international only started in a handful of his first 18 appearances, but netted twice against Wrexham and Swansea City.

However, with the Northern Irishman opting to depart Portman Road in pre-season, Gary O'Neil has since reshuffled his attacking pack, and the recent high-profile addition of Julio Enciso has added further doubt to Mehmeti's long-term future.

It has since been reported that Birmingham, alongside Derby County and Wrexham, have started a three-way transfer race, with Ipswich demanding £9m for the player, which is in a region we have seen Blues spend before in terms of transfer fees.

Birmingham City have been 'desperate' for Anis Mehmeti's creative spark

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Mehmeti, of course, can operate on the right, through the middle and in a left-wing position, as seen throughout his time with Bristol City in particular.

Birmingham have been heavily linked with a barrage of wingers and attacking midfielders in recent days, especially after losing out to Hull City for Joe Gelhardt's signature.

Unsurprisingly, given his record in the past 24 months, where 12 of his 23 goals in that time helped fire the Robins into the 2024/25 play-offs, it has been viewed as rather desperate that Birmingham acquire the five-time international's services, especially with the proven Championship experience he brings, after the club's prior transfer policy was criticised by sections of the fanbase.

Demarai Gray's Birmingham City spell could be impacted if Anis Mehmeti arrived

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However, given Mehmeti's versatility, current ability and room for further growth, Demarai Gray could see his second spell at the club further impacted in a negative way.

The 30-year-old completed a sentimental return to his boyhood club last summer on a free transfer after leaving the Saudi Pro League, but it's fair to say his first season in the Championship for 10 years didn't exactly go to plan.

Despite hitting a purple patch during November and early December, where seven of his 10 goal contributions were registered, the experienced figure, partly due to injury, lost his place to Ibrahim Osman, who has since been heavily linked with a return, although the likeliness of that deal has been mixed in various reports.

Gray, despite netting a 95th-minute penalty against Bristol City to salvage a 2-2 draw on August 22nd, has also had a frustrating start to this season, with a pre-season knock seeing him fall behind Jay Stansfield in the pecking order for the left-wing position.

That could still be the case if Mehmeti was to arrive, as the Ipswich man would be hoping for guaranteed minutes yet again.

Demarai Gray's Birmingham City future had already been uncertain

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Whilst there was no guarantee that Gray was to leave, such a potential predicament comes after a period of uncertainty over his future.

It was reported in June that, for a brief period, several clubs had made approaches to sign the 29-time international due to an exit clause, albeit the fee was never disclosed.

linked, it would be a risk for Birmingham