New club enter race to sign Birmingham City's Marc Leonard | OneFootball

Marc Leonard has been heavily linked with a move away from St. Andrew's

Belgian Pro League side Sint-Truiden VV are reportedly interested in a move for current Birmingham City outcast, Marc Leonard.

That is according to Sacha Tavolieri, via X, with the Scottish midfielder continuing to be absent from Chris Davies' matchday plans as the winter transfer window continues to progress nearer to Deadline Day on Monday, February 2nd.

Blues were in FA Cup third round action on Saturday evening, with Davies' men emerging narrow victors over League Two play-off hopefuls, Cambridge United, at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

The 40-year-old fielded a relatively strong team for the encounter, and he would have felt initially vindicated in his decision to do so, as Birmingham found themselves 3-0 to the good with 12 minutes to go as Kai Wagner's 31st-minute strike was followed up by Kyogo Furuhashi's first goal since August, and Marvin Ducksch's sixth of the campaign across all competitions.

Sully Kaikai's late double made it far more of a contest in the dying embers than those who made the trip from the West Midlands in freezing conditions would have envisaged, and whilst changes, obviously, were made throughout the second period, Davies would not call upon the services of Leonard, as he was omitted from the matchday squad for a second weekend running.

Blues' transfer plans for the current window have been widely reported, with Football League World exclusively revealing that as many as eight departures could be sanctioned at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Davies has already seen Eiran Cashin's loan move cut short as he linked up with Blackburn Rovers, whilst Dion Sanderson's temporary switch to Derby County was made permanent and Emil Hansson joined Excelsior Rotterdam.

Within our aforementioned revelation, FLW understand that permanent departures could be sanctioned for Leonard alongside Alfons Sampsted, Willum Willumsson, Keshi Anderson and Lyndon Dykes, and a fresh update has emerged regarding the Scottish midfielder's potential whereabouts.

Sint-Truiden VV express transfer interest in Birmingham City outcast Marc Leonard

It has been well-documented that Leonard has found regular minutes extremely hard to come by at St. Andrew's, despite the fact his signature was courted extremely strongly during Davies' first transfer window in charge back in the summer of 2024.

The 24-year-old penned a four-year contract in the Second City after Blues struck a £500,000 agreement with Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion.

Leonard's reputation has not taken a massive hit amid his struggle for gametime, having started in just 23 of Birmingham's 60 matches across all competitions during the club's record-breaking season in League One, often being utilised as a back-up to both Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-ho.

With owner, Tom Wagner, continuing to bankroll a quick bid to return to the Premier League for the first time since May 2011, Leonard saw his immediate future in B9 come under question as Birmingham conducted yet another high-profile window in terms of incomings - of which 14 were acquired on a permanent or temporary basis.

After Alfie May became a high-profile departee through his move to League One promotion favourites, Huddersfield Town, Leonard was also reportedly of interest to the West Yorkshire side, although a deal would fail to materialise.

So far this term, the seven-time Scotland Under-21s international has only made 17 appearances across all competitions, starting in just seven of those, with his future coming under the microscope after being omitted from last weekend's 3-2 win over Championship leaders, Coventry City.

A report from Birmingham Live outlined that divisional rivals, Sheffield United and Norwich City have been long-term admirers of Leonard, and that there is scope for a potential exit if a replacement can be sourced.

However, Tavolieri now claims that Sint-Truiden, who are currently third in the Belgian Pro League, have 'gathered information' over their chances of striking a deal between now and the deadline which is three weeks on Monday.

The journalist's update, via X, suggests that the deal could involve an initial loan move without an option or obligation-to-buy at the end of the campaign.

Marc Leonard may want permanent Birmingham City exit amid current uncertainty

Given the current predicament involving the former Northampton Town loan ace, an initial loan move without clarification on what the future holds may not be the type of deal which interests Leonard, who, at this stage in his career, will be demanding regular action.

Of course, that is likely to come in Belgium despite Sint-Truiden's strong season, although Blues would have to add further depth in midfield to compensate for the Scot's exit, be that short or long-term.

It does come as no surprise, though, that the midfielder is not short of suitors, and it remains to be seen who could be successful in this transfer saga.