Fresh Birmingham City, Marvin Ducksch transfer twist drops involving top-flight club | OneFootball

The German had been the subject of intense exit talk throughout the summer window

A fresh transfer twist has emerged involving Birmingham City's German striker, Marvin Ducksch, who attracted plenty of interest throughout the summer window.

According to Spanish journalist, Nacho Sanchis - via X - the 32-year-old has been left frustrated with the Championship club's decision not to green-light a return to top-flight football for the forward, with La Liga side, Valencia CF, eyeing a last-gasp move for his services.

Blues' transfer window has split opinion amongst supporters at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, with it being, by far, the quietest of Chris Davies' spell in charge, as only seven additions were made to the 41-year-old's pre-existing squad despite a plethora of late-window transfer links.

The last of those was announced just minutes before the West Midlands side's 1-1 draw with Southampton in B9 on Tuesday night, as Canadian international winger, Liam Millar, finalised a loan move from Hull City after the club were able to fend off divisional competition for his short-term acquisition.

The draw against Saints means that Davies' team have kept up their unbeaten, yet draw-heavy start to the league season, and with the window now shut until January, the Blues boss will be hoping for no distractions in the club's promotion bid.

How Marvin Ducksch feels as Birmingham City reject late Valencia transfer raid

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Ducksch, 32, was signed last summer by Birmingham from Bundesliga side, Werder Bremen, for a reported £1.75m on a three-year contract as part of a hefty recruitment drive in which 14 players were added to Davies' squad.

After a slow start, largely due to a pre-season injury, the two-time German international went on to score 11 goals in all competitions, but from March onwards, his immediate future in the Second City has been jeopardised by transfer speculation and a well-documented off-field incident, where he was heavily fined and banned from driving for 14 months after causing a three-way vehicle collision near the club's training ground.

As recently as the final week of the summer window, it was suggested that Blues could still accept an offer as low as €500,000 to help finalise a late transfer for Ducksch, who has spoken about his desire to return to Germany.

However, on Deadline Day came a swoop from Valencia, managed by former West Bromwich Albion boss, Carlos Corberan, but the deal, which had reportedly been agreed between the relevant parties in the early hours of the window's final day, fell through.

It has been claimed that the reason behind such circumstances is that Ducksch was named on Davies' bench against Southampton, although the forward is said to have been rather perplexed as to how this caused the transfer to stall.

Chris Davies issues Marvin Ducksch verdict after Southampton draw

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Due to a pre-season injury, Ducksch is yet to be heavily involved in competitive action for Birmingham this season, having made the bench in the past three matches against Bristol City, Wrexham and Southampton.

However, amid the aforementioned transfer speculation, he has been an unused substitute throughout the past 180 minutes of action, although Davies was quick to issue his verdict on the forward's situation on Tuesday night.

Asked if he is likely to remain in B9, Davies said: “Yes.

“There’s been a lot of talking around him, but he’s been training and working well, waiting for his opportunity. That will be the plan moving forward."

How Birmingham City fans are feeling over Marvin Ducksch twist

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As previously mentioned, Ducksch has split opinion amongst Bluenoses, and they had plenty to say on the latest transfer twist.

"Imagine being Ducksch, cancelled the transfer then doesnt get on the pitch #BCFC let the man go!," wrote one supporter.

"I choose to believe Davies killed the Ducksch loan because otherwise we’d have to put a kid on the bench," said another Bluenose when Tuesday's lineup was confirmed.

"Ducksch on the bench when he was meant to be signing for Valencia an hour ago sounds good. long long season ahead," was another verdict.

However, not all were of the opinion that the German should depart, with one fan stating: "Don’t mind Ducksch staying, has had a year learning the league and was top quality at times albeit a luxury player. Looks like he’ll have a big part to play if no one else coming in aside from Millar."

Marvin Ducksch can still offer plenty to Birmingham City in the short-term

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Although Ducksch is likely to be frustrated that a top-flight move hasn't come his way, he can still offer Birmingham plenty in the short-term, which, in turn, could increase his chances of a January exit.

The German has featured in the centre-forward and 'number 10' role, which means he can still provide adequate depth behind the likes of Jay Stansfield and August Priske, although it was still rather telling that Davies opted to bring Paik Seung-ho and Luis Vazquez into the fray in midweek instead of the experienced figure.