Birmingham City must hijack Coventry City move for Sunderland star | OneFootball

Birmingham City should target Sunderland's Anthony Patterson as they look to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer.

Birmingham City will be aiming for promotion next season after a decent campaign under Chris Davies following their return to the Championship.

Given the investment that has gone into Blues over the past few years, there was a lot of expectation at St. Andrew’s going into this season, particularly as they had broken the EFL points record in League One as title winners.

So, some may be disappointed that Blues failed to sustain a genuine push for the play-offs, but a top ten finish does represent progress, as it was the highest finish the club has recorded since 2011/12.

Birmingham City need a top quality goalkeeper this summer

Nevertheless, it’s clear that the Birmingham hierarchy will expect a play-off place as a minimum next season, and with the new format extending to eight teams, they will fancy their chances.

But, for Blues to achieve their goals moving forward, further investment is required, so a huge summer transfer window awaits for the club.

Pleasingly, given the business they have done in the past two years, Blues go into the window with a strong base, which means it’s a case of quality over quantity as they try to identify individuals to improve the group.

The recruitment team will no doubt be drawing up a list of targets for specific positions, and it would be no surprise if a new goalkeeper was among the priorities.

James Beadle was Blues’ number one this season, and whilst the England U21 international is undoubtedly talented, and he made some brilliant saves, he also struggled for consistency and made some costly errors.

With his loan deal up, it seems unlikely that Blues will return for Beadle, so they will be in the market for a keeper, and it’s a position they must get right if they are to be in the mix for promotion.

Anthony Patterson would be a sensible signing for Birmingham City

Given the nature of the position, Blues may benefit from going for a more proven performer in goal, and Anthony Patterson would tick all the boxes for Davies.

The 26-year-old is approaching 150 appearances at this level, and it’s fair to say, over the past few years, Patterson has established himself as a top quality Championship stopper.

He was crucial for Sunderland as they won promotion to the Premier League last season, but the Black Cats were ruthless after reaching the Premier League, as Robin Roefs was brought in.

The Dutchman’s performances have justified that decision, and it meant Patterson decided to leave in January to join Millwall on loan, and he has once again showed his class at this level.

He has quickly settled at The Den, and whilst he does have a fantastic defence in front of him, Patterson has been a strong, reliable figure that helped Millwall to third, even if he made a rare mistake as Hull beat the Lions in the play-off semi-final.

A return to Sunderland to sit on the bench isn’t on the cards, so it’s inevitable that Patterson will leave permanently in the summer, and reports are already emerging suggesting there are multiple suitors for the keeper, including Coventry City.

Simply put, Birmingham must join the race for his signature, and whilst the supposed asking price of up to £10m is a hefty sum, it’s certainly within Blues’ range.

If Coventry did make a serious move, the appeal of the Premier League would give them an edge, but as they try to keep Carl Rushworth on a permanent basis, and assess other targets, it may open a window for Birmingham to strike quickly.

As outlined above, this is a summer window where Blues need to identify players who can slot in straight away to make them a force next season, when they aim to challenge for promotion.

With Patterson, Blues would be getting someone who is an immediate upgrade on what they have. He is approaching his peak years, and he has already proven himself in the Championship, which includes winning promotion.

So, it’s a no-brainer for Birmingham, and whilst it may not be straightforward, if they could get it over the line, Patterson would be a statement of intent as they try to put the pieces together for what they hope to be a successful 2026/27 season.