Birmingham City can fix glaring issue with deal for ex-Aston Villa man | OneFootball

Birmingham City are likely to be in the market for a new keeper this summer, and Wolves' Sam Johnstone could be what they need for a promotion push.

Birmingham City’s ambitious US owners have put serious investment into the club as they look to reach the Premier League.

That’s not seen as the final step for Blues, as chairman Tom Wagner has made it clear that they want to establish the club at that level before trying to disrupt the elite on a regular basis.

Of course, it remains to be seen how realistic that is, but nobody can question how serious the owners have been since they arrived.

A record-breaking spend in League One resulted in a record-breaking title win, and the club have continued to splash the cash to help boss Chris Davies.

Birmingham City will need to target a new goalkeeper this summer

The dream of successive promotions is certainly not over, but the reality is that Davies’ men have little margin for error if they are going to make the play-offs.

However, even if Birmingham fail to go up, they have laid solid foundations to ensure they will be in a position to seriously push for promotion next season.

Yet, it’s pretty clear that a few changes are needed to help the squad, and most would agree that a new number one will be among the priorities going into the window.

James Beadle joined the club on loan from Brighton for the current campaign, and whilst he has done well at times, he hasn’t always convinced.

With that in mind, it’s hard to imagine Blues will be desperate to bring the England U21 international back, either on loan or permanently.

Sam Johnstone could be an ideal fit for Birmingham City in the Championship

Ryan Allsop has been a very good signing for Birmingham, but the fact Davies prefers Beadle suggests he isn’t sold on the 33-year-old at this level, and there would be doubts over his ability to play for a team that is chasing a top two place.

If Blues are in the market for a proven stopper at this level, they must consider a move for Wolves’ Sam Johnstone.

A deal wouldn’t be straightforward for the keeper on the basis that Wolves are going to be promotion rivals, but it’s unlikely they would stand in his way if a suitable offer arrived.

In truth, Johnstone hasn’t impressed at Molineux, and even with Jose Sa likely to depart as well, most fans would welcome an overhaul of the goalkeeping department.

As well as that, if the ex-England international wasn’t guaranteed game time, he would want to leave as well, so you get the sense an agreement could be found.

Then, purely from a football perspective, Johnstone would add a lot to Birmingham, both on and off the pitch.

At 33, Blues would be getting a keeper who is capable of making an instant impact, which is what will matter ahead of next season.

Unlike Beadle, Johnstone is at his peak, and he has proven he can deliver for successful teams in the second tier over the years. He impressed as Aston Villa reached the play-off final in 2018, and he didn’t miss a game as West Brom won promotion under Slaven Bilic two years later.

Having players who have been there and done it is also going to help Birmingham’s dressing room.

The financial power of the club brings expectation, and it can be difficult for players to deal with that, but Johnstone would be a calming influence to others, as he knows what’s required to get over the line, as well as having played at the highest level, which includes his country.

This wouldn’t be the sort of signing that particularly excites Birmingham fans, and the fact he played for Villa and would join from Wolves puts him on the backfoot from the start to an extent.

Yet, if Birmingham are preparing for another year in the Championship, this summer will be about making a few tweaks that can help them take that next step rather than an overhaul.

So, targeting a proven promotion-winner like Johnstone could be just what they need, even if it might not be the most eye-catching deal.