Birmingham City must eye new Brighton transfer raid - Sheffield United would hate it | OneFootball

Amario Cozier-Duberry could be a welcome addition to Blues' ranks this summer

Birmingham City haven't exactly enjoyed the levels of success which many predicted could have come their way at this stage of the Championship season.

For the first time in many second tier seasons, Blues are not fearing a relegation battle heading into the final three matches, but that doesn't hide away from the fact that a mid-table finish this time around has led to an overall feeling of disappointment amongst supporters at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Throughout Chris Davies' tenure as manager, which is approaching the end of its second year, the Blues boss has received ample backing in the transfer market to reshape his squad in order to align with the club's lofty ambitions, which have been made clear by those at the top.

However, this season, two extremely eye-catching transfer windows haven't married up with a push for the play-off places, at least, in the second tier, meaning Birmingham will have to go again next term if they are to break into the division's expanded structure of the post-season lottery, with both seventh and eighth place involved in additional 'eliminator' matches.

It, of course, remains to be seen if Davies is to be the man leading the next phase of Blues' rebuild under Knighthead, as pressure continues to surface, as well as how many changes to the squad could be made.

That being said, though, the club have enjoyed a healthy relationship with Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion, in recent times, and this could be used to their advantage yet again this summer in the expected race for Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Amario Cozier-Duberry has excelled for Bolton Wanderers in League One

In what has been an intriguing League One season all round, Cozier-Duberry has often found himself as the 'poster boy' in a Bolton Wanderers side looking to achieve similar feats to that of Blues 12 months ago, albeit the Whites will have to put their recent play-off woes behind them if they are to follow Lincoln City and Cardiff City to the Championship.

Steven Schumacher's side have showcased their attacking flair for large quarters of the season, and they are certainly starting to hit their strides again after a dry recent period which saw automatic promotion slip away from their grasp.

However, with the play-off race behind them still congested, it showcases how pivotal the 20-year-old winger's tally of eight goals and 11 assists in 32 league appearances to date have been.

Having been in inspired form throughout the opening months of the season, which included two goals and as many assists in a 4-0 win over Port Vale in November, Championship clubs including Sheffield United were reportedly looking to serve Wanderers a huge blow with a transfer pursuit for the Seagulls loanee, but this failed to materialise.

As previously mentioned, Bolton have restored their confidence in recent games, and that has certainly aligned with Cozier-Duberry's return from injury, and there is now every chance he could be returning to the Championship next season on a personal level one way or another.

Amario Cozier-Duberry would add extra flair and depth to Birmingham City's wide areas

As previously mentioned, the Blades were one of several sides linked with a January move, and it would appear as though Chris Wilder's transfer stance has remained unchanged, even though Brighton are reportedly in contract talks with the attacker at present.

Blues have endured mixed fortunes when it comes to the loans of James Beadle and Eiran Cashin from the Sussex club this term, whilst the same could also be said about Cozier-Duberry's prior spell in the second tier with Blackburn Rovers.

At Ewood Park, the winger scored just once in 23 games, but is now a player full of confidence.

Blues will hope for more end product from their wingers next season if they are to challenge for the top eight, and the Brighton man would certainly hope to add to that, even if there is no guarantee that he would immediately earn a starting spot in front of the likes of Demarai Gray, Carlos Vicente and Patrick Roberts - all of whom were three marquee signings this season under Davies.

It could all depend on whether Davies is still in charge, but this is a transfer race well worth joining from Birmingham's perspective as it could also weaken the play-off hopes of other sides also looking to enjoy much more successful campaigns in 2026/27.