How Birmingham City could look under Thomas Frank - 4 changes expected | OneFootball

FLW have looked at how Blues could line up amid links to the former Spurs boss

Birmingham City's Championship campaign has more than fizzled out in recent weeks, and now eyes are firmly cast on whether there is likely to be a managerial change at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in the off-season.

Chris Davies, of course, masterminded Blues' record-breaking League One title success in 2024/25 amid hefty investment and backing from Tom Wagner, but this season has been far from straightforward despite a continuation of such support.

As such, the 41-year-old has been the subject of sack calls at various points of the season, and Football League World understand that, in the potential scenario of Davies being dismissed in B9, Knighthead are to eye up an ambitious swoop for ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss, Thomas Frank.

The 52-year-old is currently out of work after his exit from the North London club in February, having previously enjoyed success with Brentford, where his high-pressing methods eventually saw the Bees promoted through the Championship play-offs in 2021, before they established themselves in the top-flight.

With that being said, FLW have looked at how Blues could line up under Frank in 2026/27 if he was appointed.

GK: Nick Shinton

The goalkeeping position at Blues is certainly up for debate at this moment in time, with James Beadle enduring a mixed season on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion after taking up the 'number one' spot back in October.

It remains to be seen if, under a different manager, the club will look to turn his temporary stint into a permanent one, albeit they have been linked with other shot-stoppers in recent times.

One of those comes in the form of Nick Shinton of Beerschot VA, after it was claimed Blues were in a battle with Championship rivals for his services ahead of the summer.

The 24-year-old has certainly enjoyed an impressive season in the Challenger Pro League, keeping 12 shutouts in 32 appearances, and those qualities would certainly be welcomed by another side desperate for short-term success, which Birmingham definitely are.

RB: Ethan Laird

Ethan Laird enjoyed a fine season in League One last term, but has been hampered by injuries this season.

Right-back is a position where Blues have struggled for consistency in terms of player form and availability, with Bright Osayi-Samuel yet to win over supporters after his switch from Fenerbahçe, whilst Tomoki Iwata has often been left filling the void despite being a central midfielder by trade.

On his day, though, the ex-Manchester United man's athleticism and end product has been vital for Birmingham, and supporters would certainly like to see Laird given the opportunity to prove himself again over the course of a 46-game season.

CB: Ethan Pinnock

Another defensive change could see Frank reunite with his ex-Brentford colleague, Ethan Pinnock.

One common criticism of Birmingham's recent recruitment drives has been a lack of Championship nous, which is an asset certainly provided by the 32-year-old. Furthermore, the Jamaican international had been the subject of interest from Blues in the recent transfer window, before they opted to recruit Jonathan Panzo on a six-month contract.

Given the fact Pinnock has struggled for minutes under Keith Andrews and only has one year left on his contract at the Gtech Community Stadium, this is a deal which would make sense for all parties, especially if Phil Neumann is to attract further interest of his own in the summer.

CB: Christoph Klarer

One of the first names on the teamsheet is up next in the form of club captain, Christoph Klarer.

In a mixed season, the Austrian has remained a constantly impressive figure for Blues with his on-pitch ability at both ends of the pitch, as well as his leadership.

He is also under contract at St. Andrew's until June 2029 at present, further cementing his position as a mainstay in the side regardless of who is in charge.

LB: Kai Wagner

Joining Klarer as a pre-existing regular is German full-back, Kai Wagner, who was signed from Philadelphia Union for £2m in January.

The 29-year-old has suffered one minor injury setback already during his spell in the West Midlands, but has also earned impressive reviews for both his ability to win battles against opposition wingers and his attacking qualities.

Indeed, Wagner was labelled an 'assist king' in the MLS, and he will hope to rack up plenty of those in his first full campaign with Blues next season.

CM: Paik Seung-ho

With Frank known for utilising a similar base system to that of Davies during his Championship years, Paik Seung-ho's presence in midfield cannot be overlooked.

The South Korean has been a consistent performer at Blues for over two years now, bringing an all-round game to the table nowadays after adding a goal threat from deep alongside his combativeness and technical ability in the middle of the park.

Therefore, the 29-year-old would most likely continue to compliment any other figures who are to be utilised alongside him.

CM: Jordan James

An ambitious potential reunion is next, as Blues could certainly showcase their ambitions yet again by swooping for Jordan James, who recently received the Championship's Young Player of the Season award for his fine individual campaign in a testing loan spell at Leicester City.

Indeed, if it wasn't for the Welsh international's double-figure tally of goal contributions, the Foxes' fate in terms of relegation could have been wrapped up some time ago, and there is likely to be transfer interest in his services this summer as a result.

James admitted that his prior spell at parent club, Stade Rennais, had been difficult after an £8m switch from Blues, and his former club could look to capitalise on that by bringing him back to St. Andrew's in a move that would benefit all parties, with James now an even more well-rounded player at the age of 21.

RM: Carlos Vicente

On the right side of midfield, it would be no surprise to see Carlos Vicente continue as first-choice, even under a new boss.

The Spaniard has certainly come to life at St. Andrew's as the current campaign draws to a close, with a variety of well-taken finishes against the likes of Ipswich Town and Wrexham in particular.

A full 46-game season after adapting to the rigours of the Championship will also give Birmingham a chance to prove that their €8m investment in the 26-year-old was well worth it after facing competition from the likes of Ajax for his services.

AM: Jay Stansfield

Although Jay Stansfield's 'best position' has divided opinion amongst Bluenoses, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club-record signing feature as a 'number 10' in Frank's system, whilst supporters would also remain hopeful that it yields better success than a frustrating recent period.

The 23-year-old has endured a quiet 2026 thus far in terms of productivity, and he will hope his luck can change in a bid to remind everyone that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the Championship, having received plenty of backlash.

LM: Demarai Gray

It would be no surprise to see Demarai Gray feature as the main left-winger for Birmingham next term, especially if a change in the dugout was to put a pin in a permanent deal for Ibrahim Osman from Brighton.

The Jamaican international's 200 Premier League appearances and the quality that comes with such an achievement have been there for all to see at various points of the season, albeit an injury at the turn of the year followed by Osman's arrival have limited his starting minutes.

This could certainly change next season, though, as the Brummie would also love nothing more than to help fire his hometown club up the table amid their lofty ambitions.