Fresh Birmingham City, Tommy Doyle transfer update emerges | OneFootball

The midfielder has spent the season at St. Andrew's on loan from Wolves

Despite being predicted to enjoy a strong first season back in the Championship, Birmingham City's chances of reaching the play-offs for the first time since 2012 were all but ended ahead of the international break.

Indeed, a 1-0 defeat to Derby County at Pride Park, in a game which saw Blues offer effectively nothing in front of goal, left the West Midlands side in 11th place, 10 points outside the play-off places with just seven matches to go.

Last season's League One champions have backed up what was an obscene spend by third tier standards last term across both windows this campaign, with 14 new players coming to B9 in the summer, before Davies was able to conduct a squad reshuffle in January which saw multiple fringe players replaced by the likes of Ibrahim Osman, Jhon Solis, August Priske and Carlos Vicente.

However, it is a gamble which hasn't paid off as of yet, leaving many sections of the Blues fanbase divided on whether Davies will be allowed to oversee a third season in charge as the club continues to push towards a return to the Premier League.

As such, it also remains to be seen which current members of the squad at St. Andrew's will be moved on in the upcoming window as exit talk continues to surround a handful of players.

With that being said, a fresh update has also been given on the future of Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee, Tommy Doyle, and it's news which supporters may have feared would be coming after recent results.

Tommy Doyle expected to return to Wolverhampton Wanderers amid Birmingham City obligation clause

At this stage of his career, Doyle has become a 'household name' in the Championship, with his current stint with Blues coming after previous loan spells with Cardiff City and Sheffield United during his breakthrough years at Manchester City.

After an initial loan move to his current employers, the 24-year-old was signed by Gary O'Neil on a permanent basis for £4.3m in 2024 after Wolves triggered an option-to-buy the deal.

However, after former Wanderers boss, Vitor Pereira, issued claims that the midfielder lacked the physicality required to compete in the Premier League week-in, week-out, Blues were able to fend off competition for his signature last July, with many believing it was a statement move.

With Birmingham's ambition also well-documented, it was reported that Doyle would become a permanent member of Davies' squad for £10m this upcoming summer if they achieved back-to-back promotions.

However, with those dreams effectively over after a continuation of the club's on-pitch inconsistencies, it has been described as 'inevitable' that the Mancunian, who has posted three assists in 34 league appearances for Blues, will return to Molineux as Wolves prepare for a Championship rebuild of their own under Rob Edwards.

Beforehand, Davies said it was "open" as to what the future holds for the ex-England youth international, but that does not appear to be the case anymore.

Rob Edwards' stance on Tommy Doyle amid fresh Wolves, Birmingham City update

It has been claimed that Edwards is a big admirer of Doyle as a player, meaning it would be no surprise to see the midfielder become a key part of first-team plans in what will be a first Championship campaign in eight years for the Old Gold and Black.

Even besides such admiration, it is expected that Birmingham's local rivals could lose one of, or both of Andre and Joao Gomes after their impending relegation amid interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.

As has been the case with several signings this season for Blues, though, the aforementioned obligatory clause in Doyle's loan was a big gamble that hasn't paid off, and they may have to look elsewhere when it comes to midfield options next season.