How Birmingham City can make huge £43k p/w saving with ruthless transfer decision | OneFootball

A winter of big change could be in the offing at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park

A winter transfer window of major change could be in store for Birmingham City, as Chris Davies' men hope to keep up with the clutch of sides fighting it out for a play-off place in the Championship.

It has been known for some time that Blues' owners, Knighthead Capital Management, want to see the club return to its previous position of regulars in the Premier League, having become exiled in the EFL in both the second and third tiers of English football since a crushing relegation on the final day of the 2010/11 season.

As such, Tom Wagner, who oversaw Knighthead's full takeover in B9 in November 2025, continues to provide Davies with hefty backing in the transfer market, with the Birmingham boss looking to make the requisite changes that could turn the club's hopes and dreams into a reality.

The former Liverpool, Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur assistant has seen transfer activity in this part of the world generate plenty of headlines - in particular, the club-record and eight-figure sums which saw Jay Stansfield return to the club on a permanent seven-year deal in August 2024, as well as that of Japanese international striker, Kyogo Furuhashi, who moved for £10m from Stade Rennais in July 2025.

Birmingham looked to immediately set their intentions of a play-off bid out last summer, with a second busy recruitment drive - in terms of both spending power and the number of players recruited - with 14 permanent or temporary arrivals coming through the door at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park after their record-breaking campaign as League One champions.

Given the club's current position in the second tier - 14th, having taken 34 points from 26 games - it is no surprise that reviews on those signings have been particularly mixed, with the trio of Demarai Gray, Patrick Roberts and Tommy Doyle standing out on that front.

Yet, whilst the Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers loanees have been key assets for Davies, one previous loanee, Eiran Cashin, has already seen his loan stint cut short by Brighton and Hove Albion, as he linked up with divisional rivals, Blackburn Rovers, for the rest of the season.

Football League World understand that the Irishman's exit could be one of eight departures confirmed by the B9 club this window, with permanent exits also hinted for Alfons Sampsted, Marc Leonard, Willum Willumsson, Keshi Anderson and Lyndon Dykes.

All the aforementioned quintet have struggled to source regular minutes this term, meaning it is not the greatest of surprises that exits may be sanctioned between now and February 2nd.

However, it may surprise Bluenoses to learn how much money the club could save on their wage bill as a result, using ESTIMATED figures from Capology.

Birmingham City could save £43k per week as five permanent exits hinted

Blues' transfer plans had been, and continue to be, widely reported, with Davies already welcoming German full-back, Kai Wagner, to his squad after reaching an agreement with Philadelphia Union last week.

As previously mentioned, Cashin's second loan switch of the campaign to Ewood Park has freed up a loan spot, following on from Emil Hansson's move to Excelsior Rotterdam and Dion Sanderson's permanent switch to Derby County, whilst FLW also revealed Lewis Koumas is set to also return to Liverpool and Lee Buchanan is expected to be granted a loan departure away from Blues as he nears a return to fitness.

However, five permanent departures may be sanctioned involving Sampsted, Leonard, Willumsson, Anderson and latterly, Dykes, who has been the subject of intense transfer interest for some time.

According to Capology, the 48-time international and current Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town target is collecting a weekly wage of £15,000 per week despite only making two league starts so far this season. It is such a figure which takes up the bulk of the quintet's combined earnings, which, if all are offloaded, would see Birmingham reduce their ESTIMATED wage bill by £43,000 per week.

Anderson, who joined Blues on a free transfer in July 2023, was a key figure in the club's title success last term, but has struggled with injury issues this time around, as well as falling down the pecking order. The experienced wide player is believed to be one of the club's lowest earners on £5,000 per week.

Meanwhile, Sampsted, who has become more involved of late due to Bright Osayi-Samuel's AFCON call-up and Ethan Laird's own injury lay-off, signed permanently from FC Twente last season, but is said to earn just £6,500 per week.

Leonard has also struggled for regular minutes since his £500k switch from Brighton in the summer of 2024, falling down the pecking order following Doyle's loan arrival. After being linked with Huddersfield Town in the summer, the £6.5k-a-week midfielder is reportedly of interest to Norwich City and Sheffield United, whilst Willumsson, who has also recently returned to Davies' first-team fold after a three-month hiatus, is said to collect a £10,000 per week pay packet.

Where Birmingham City's wage bill could rank in the Championship amid five potential exits

Despite the club's well-documented pull at present, especially through the plans for the 62,000-seater Powerhouse stadium, Birmingham are said to have just the ninth-largest wage bill in the division, coming in at an ESTIMATED weekly figure of £372,500.

This is still over £400,000 less than Leicester City, who top those charts despite only being three points better off than their Midlands rivals in the standings at the beginning of 2026.

If all of Sampsted, Leonard, Willumsson, Anderson and Dykes were to depart, this would reduce Wagner's payroll to a weekly sum of approximately £329,500, which would fall below the wage bills of Watford, Wrexham and Stoke City.