Fresh Jay Stansfield exit twist emerges at Birmingham City as Ipswich Town plot move | OneFootball

Speculation over the future of Blues' record signing has been rife in recent days

Birmingham City and their supporters will be hoping that the 2026/27 season is one which ends with promotion back to the Premier League after what would be a 16-year exile from the top-flight.

In recent times, plenty of attention has been given to developments both on and off the pitch at Blues, with Knighthead Capital Management not afraid to flex their financial wealth in the transfer market, as well as being extremely vocal when it comes to both the short and long-term ambitions at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

It has now been two years since Chris Davies was appointed as manager in this part of the West Midlands, with the 41-year-old receiving mixed reviews from those on the terraces as a result of two extremely contrasting seasons.

In his first-ever season as a manager, Davies was backed heavily by the likes of Tom Wagner to reshape the Birmingham squad into one which could get out of League One at the first time of asking after one of the most chaotic relegation seasons in recent memory in the EFL.

Such feats were certainly achieved, and many felt it would only be a matter of time before his team, with the continued backing of Knighthead, would be challenging for a second promotion under his management and, indeed, their ownership.

While the Blues boss was certainly given the time to continue making the adjustments he felt were required, they were never really in and amongst the division's promotion race, ending the season in 10th - nine points behind the play-off spots.

As such, a critical summer of activity is looming large, and it now remains to be seen if club-record buy, Jay Stansfield, will stick around.

Birmingham City face shock Jay Stansfield exit threat involving Hull City and Ipswich Town

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Indeed, the 23-year-old forward was signed for in excess of £15m in August 2024 from Premier League side, Fulham, in a record-breaking deal which sent plenty of shockwaves through the footballing world at the time.

Stansfield had enjoyed a 12-goal season despite Blues' relegation to League One, and was just as instrumental in their title-winning term after signing a fresh seven-year contract.

The last 12 months or so, though, haven't exactly been the most straightforward for the England youth international, even though he would end the campaign as the club's joint-top scorer in the league alongside Marvin Ducksch, hitting the 10-goal mark.

However, only two of those goals came from November onwards, and there have been plenty of concerns when it comes to what positions Stansfield has been utilised in and which one he is best suited to, having featured out wide, in the 'number 10' and as a focal point to Davies' attack.

But, it has now emerged through Football Insider that newly-promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town are looking to raid Birmingham for the striker, who has been valued at £25m by his current employers.

It has been claimed that Stansfield "ticks a lot of boxes" for the East Yorkshire and Suffolk outfits, with the latter said to be closing in on the appointment of Gary O'Neil following Kieran McKenna's shock exit.

Meanwhile, Hull are expected to conduct plenty of business under Sergej Jakirovic after the lifting of a two-window transfer fee restriction, even though a potential overspend by June 30th against the EFL's PSR rules could leave them in hot water.

How Birmingham City fans are feeling about a potential exit for Jay Stansfield

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There has been speculation over Stansfield's future for the past week or so, and it has generated plenty of reactions.

One Bluenose believes the club could be tempted to sell if they received a bid as high as £35m and then moved to sign Hull forward, Kyle Joseph, who has reportedly attracted interest from Millwall after an eight-goal season.

Another believes that Blues, in reality, are pushing it with a £25m valuation when looking at the forward's recent output.

One Blues supporter believes that, if any other manager was to part with £25m for Stansfield, it would be worthy of a rather intriguing outcome.

Meanwhile, another was also of the opinion that it could be better for Blues, in the long run, to accept the money and reinvest it throughout Davies' team.

Throughout his career, Stansfield has only played four times in the Premier League for Fulham, and whilst he has been hyped up for some time, largely due to the price Blues paid to the West London club, it is understandable why some would have reservations over whether he is fully ready for the Premier League.

Another season in the Championship could be the best course of action for the player, but if the price is right, then the Birmingham hierarchy would certainly have a decision to make, even if the forward has become the poster boy of their rebuilding 'project', which links to the upcoming Powerhouse stadium and Sports Quarter development.