Birmingham City launch ambitious transfer bid for ex-Barcelona player | OneFootball

Blues are launching yet another ambitious transfer raid this summer

Birmingham City are launching yet another ambitious transfer move as they pursue the services of Rennes defender, Mikayil Faye.

Blues are looking to continue taking the Championship by storm after accumulating the EFL's all-time high points total of 111 in League One last term, and have already made several statement signings this summer, with many also having strong impacts in their early-season encounters.

Knighthead Capital Management have made it no secret that they intend to back Chris Davies to the hill in the transfer market in a sharp bid to end the club's lengthy Premier League exile, which will have lasted 15 years by the conclusion of this season, and many believe that the ex-Tottenham Hotspur assistant definitely has the tools in order to mount an immediate bid for back-to-back promotions.

As well as already having standout performers from last season's record-breaking campaign, such as poster boy Jay Stansfield and newly-appointed captain Christoph Klarer, the return of Demarai Gray as well as the captures of Kanya Fujimoto, Marvin Ducksch, Tommy Doyle and £10m buy, Kyogo Furuhashi have only increased excitement levels at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

And, the aforementioned Japanese forward could be joined by one of his former teammates at Roahzon Park, if Birmingham are able to fend off competition for the aforementioned defender.

It has been reported by the Daily Mail on Thursday afternoon that the Second City outfit are looking to continue their remarkable feats in the market by launching a bid for the Senegalese defender who joined the Ligue 1 outfit for €10.3m last summer amid financial and administrative difficulties and constraints at the Catalan giants.

The report continues to state that Blues face a battle from outfits in the Premier League who are monitoring Faye's situation as the transfer window draws to a close, but are hoping to once again use the likes of minority stakeholder, Tom Brady, as a tool to continue drawing high-profile players to B9, as well as showcasing the lofty ambitions in the pipeline such as the £3bn 'Sports Quarter' complex.

The versatile defender made just 12 appearances for Rennes last season alongside the aforementioned Kyogo and Birmingham academy graduate Jordan James, and is capable of playing at centre-back or on the left side of defence.

During his time at Barcelona after moving from NK Kustosija, Faye made 35 appearances for 'Barca Atlético', scoring on four occasions, with the La Liga club also set to receive a cash windfall if a move comes to fruition through the insertion of a 30 percent sell-on clause, as well as a €25m buyback clause of their own.

Mikayil Faye could grow with Birmingham City's project

Given his versatility, it is clear that Faye can fit multiple roles in Davies' system, although centre-back is an area in which Birmingham are currently well stacked in with the likes of Klarer, Phil Neumann and Eiran Cashin.

Despite predominantly featuring in the heart of defence, Faye's ability to play left-back could come in handy due to Lee Buchanan's prior fitness and availability issues, and would provide more than adequate competition for the consistent Alex Cochrane.

The fact that several Premier League clubs are monitoring his exploits once again showcases how far Blues have come in a short period of time, and a player of this current stature and potential could be yet another addition who could grow with the club and seamlessly make the step-up to the top flight if the West Midlands outfit are to realise their dreams in the near future.