Birmingham City news: Ipswich Town player linked, Celtic transfer interest reignited, Derby seek deal | OneFootball

We rounded up all the latest news from Birmingham City ahead of the January transfer window.

As the halfway point of the Championship season approaches, it has been a frustrating few weeks for Birmingham City.

There has been plenty of good news for Birmingham off the field of late, with Knighthead completing a full takeover of the club and plans for the new 62,000-seater stadium being unveiled, but events on the pitch have been a little less positive.

After suffering back-to-back away defeats against Southampton and Queens Park Rangers, the Blues were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by out-of-form Charlton Athletic at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Saturday, which extended their winless run to three games.

Manager Chris Davies will be focusing on improving his side's form over the busy festive period, but the Blues will also be making plans for the upcoming January transfer window, and with that in mind, we rounded up all the latest news involving the Midlands outfit.

Birmingham City linked with Ipswich Town defender Darnell Furlong

With Ethan Laird out until March with a hamstring injury and Bright Osayi-Samuel and Alfons Sampstead both out of favour, right-back has been something of a problem position for Birmingham this season.

Midfielder Tomoki Iwata has been filling in at right-back for the Blues in recent weeks, and while he has performed well in an unfamiliar role, it seems Davies may be preparing to enter the transfer market to solve the issue.

According to GiveMeSport, Ipswich Town defender Darnell Furlong is one of the names on Birmingham's three-man shortlist to bolster their full-back areas, despite only making a £4 million move to Portman Road from West Bromwich Albion this summer.

Furlong has provided two assists in 15 appearances for the Tractor Boys so far this season, so manager Kieran McKenna will likely be reluctant to lose one of his key men, but after just a few months in Suffolk, the 30-year-old is reportedly keen to return to the Midlands.

However, given he already featured for former club West Brom in the early stages of the 2025-26 season, as well as Ipswich subsequently, Furlong would not be able to play for Blues until next season.

Birmingham City set to reignite interest in Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun

It is no secret that Davies is looking to strengthen his defensive ranks in January, but it seems he is also hoping to bring in some more attacking quality, and Birmingham could be set to turn back to a previous target in Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun.

After initially offering £1.5 million to the Scottish giants for Yang, it was reported that the Blues had agreed a fee of around £3 million for the 23-year-old in August, and he was set to travel to St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park to complete the move.

However, the deal collapsed in the final stages of the summer transfer window, and Yang remained at Celtic, where he has scored two goals and provided one assist in 18 appearances in all competitions during what has been a turbulent season for his side.

Despite missing out on Yang in the summer, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claims that Birmingham are preparing to reignite their interest in the South Korea international in January, but they face competition from two of their Championship rivals in Norwich City and Preston North End.

As previously mentioned, defender Alfons Sampsted is one player who has struggled for game time at Birmingham this season.

Sampsted joined the Blues on loan from Dutch side FC Twente last summer following their relegation to League One, and he scored one goal and provided one assist in 23 appearances in all competitions during the club's title-winning campaign.

Birmingham activated their option to sign Sampsted permanently in the summer at the end of his loan spell, but he has featured just three times this season, including making only two substitute appearances in the league, which has fuelled speculation about a potential January exit.

However, with Laird out injured and Osayi-Samuel away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, Davies insisted that Sampsted will be needed over the festive period, and he ruled out the prospect of an imminent departure for the 27-year-old.

"I think Alfons is going to be important, and I've spoken to him about that," Davies told Birmingham Live.

"He hasn't played much at all, and I think there'll be interest in him definitely, but with Bright going away — and we're not sure when he's going to come back — with Ethan also injured, Alfons is now an important part, and he needs to take his chance when it comes.

"I'm sure he'll be on the pitch soon, so there's no pathway out of the club for Fons just yet. We just have to keep working with him, and hopefully he can take his chance."

John Eustace speaks out as Derby County line up permanent Dion Sanderson deal

While Davies may have poured cold water on rumours linking Sampsted with an exit, one player who looks to be heading out of Birmingham in January is defender Dion Sanderson.

After being deemed surplus to requirements at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, Sanderson joined Derby County on a season-long loan in the summer, reuniting with former Blues manager John Eustace, and it has been claimed that the Rams are keen to sign the 26-year-old permanently next month after agreeing a £350,000 deal in principle.

When quizzed about the speculation this week, Eustace was full of praise for Sanderson's performances this season, and he did not deny that he was looking to bring him to Pride Park on a full-time basis.

"I think that's down to the club and everyone knows that I think Dion's an excellent player," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.

"We've brought him in where a lot of people had probably given up on him and he was maybe going elsewhere – and we've given him an opportunity.

"He's done very well. I've been really pleased with his form. He's only going to get better and that's between the two clubs now."