Birmingham City face huge hurdle if they want to sign Mateo Joseph at Leeds United | OneFootball

Birmingham City have been linked with a move for Mateo Joseph

Mateo Joseph has told Leeds United he wants to move to Spain amid links to Birmingham City.

It was reported earlier this summer that the Blues are keen on the forward ahead of their return to the Championship.

However, they face competition from the likes of Celta Vigo and Real Betis, with the 21-year-old potentially set for an exit from Elland Road.

Amid speculation over his future, Joseph has not travelled with the Whites to their pre-season training camp in Germany, and has handed in a transfer request in order to help facilitate a move.

Daniel Farke provides Mateo Joseph transfer update

Daniel Farke has provided an update on Leeds’ stance regarding Joseph, confirming that he has asked to leave the club.

While he reaffirmed the striker’s value to the squad, he hinted that a move back to his native Spain is his preference at this stage amid Birmingham’s interest in the player.

"It was actually the plan for him to come to Germany and the situation is also quite clear," said Farke, via the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"First of all, we really value and rate him. Otherwise, we wouldn't have played him, especially in the beginning of the last successful campaign, ahead of Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe and ahead of an experienced striker like Patrick Bamford.

"If I'm not completely wrong, he had 39 appearances for us in the Championship, I think, double figures of appearances in the starting line-up.

"You just do this with a 20-year-old guy, or 21-year-old guy, when you believe in him and trust him.

"So it's a sign of how much we value him.

"Nevertheless, he came to me and to us and said that he wants a new challenge and would like to have a move.

"He has also hinted that he prefers a move to Spain due to his Spanish roots.

"And yes, obviously that was more or less his call.

"And therefore, okay, we just want players who are excited about the project to play with Leeds United in the best league in the world, here in the Premier League, who want to be here with us and want to be successful with us.

"If this is more or less your wish, I, as a manager, won't stand in the way and accept this, because I just want players who want to be here and are buzzing that they can represent this club at Premier League level.

"For that I've said okay Mateo, I accept."

Birmingham City’s summer business

Birmingham have already been quite active so far this summer, with Davies looking to build a team ready to fight at the top end of the Championship.

The Blues have made permanent deals for Kyogo Furuhashi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kanya Fujimoto and Phil Neumann.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Alfons Sampstead have also both joined permanently after initial loan spells at St. Andrew’s last season, with Demarai Gray also returning to the club.

Meanwhile, loan moves have been completed for James Beadle and Tommy Doyle.

Birmingham pursuit of Joseph looks unlikely at this stage

Joseph’s preference being a move to Spain makes it seem quite unlikely that he will be playing in Birmingham next season.

The Blues have forward options and spending Leeds’ reported asking price of £10 million to sign him may not be their wisest investment at this stage anyway.

Joseph certainly has potential, and at 21 he may still become a top prospect, but Birmingham have Jay Stansfield and Furuhashi to choose from already.

With the club unable to guarantee regular game time as a starter, it’s difficult to foresee this move coming to fruition.