Birmingham City told to avoid selling 'absolutely quality' star | OneFootball

Ethan Laird has struggled with injuries during the Championship season for Blues

Birmingham City's season is effectively over when it comes to any positive or negative drama in the final four matches, meaning there is a chance for the club to start preparing for the 2026/27 campaign ahead of schedule.

Since their initial takeover at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park three summers ago, the club's American investors haven't been afraid to conduct plenty of high turnover in the transfer market, and that has been particularly evident during Chris Davies' time in charge.

The 41-year-old has been heavily backed in terms of funds to reshape his squad throughout four transfer windows in League One and the Championship thus far, although the club's most recent overhaul in the winter of 2026 has proven unsuccessful to-date as their play-off hopes have faded into the abyss.

It also remains to be seen if Davies will be the man leading the next phase of Tom Wagner's 'project' in this part of the West Midlands for next season, with the former Tottenham Hotspur assistant under increasing pressure despite a recent 2-0 success over Wrexham.

As a result of an alarming run of results and performances beforehand, it had been reported that one man who could replace him at St. Andrew's is former boss, Lee Carsley.

Whether a changing of the guard does happen is a different matter entirely, but there has also been intense speculation over the long-term future of some of the current Blues squad - namely the attacking duo of Marvin Ducksch and Kyogo Furuhashi.

However, given his individual Championship campaign has been largely blighted by injury, Football League World quizzed our Birmingham City fan pundit, Jason Moore, on how he assesses Ethan Laird's immediate future.

Birmingham City urged to retain 'Premier League'-standard Ethan Laird as Bright Osayi-Samuel comparison made

The right-back has endured mixed fortunes at St. Andrew's since his £750,000 arrival from Manchester United in July 2023, suffering relegation in his first campaign, then becoming rejuvenated in League One under Davies before suffering a frustrating hamstring injury in September.

At his best, Laird's dynamism and versatility has been a key asset for Blues in both defence and attack, proven by a record of five goals and seven assists in 92 appearances so far.

However, in his absence, Davies has utilised summer signing, Bright Osayi-Samuel, who is yet to win over the majority of supporters, or moved Tomoki Iwata to full-back from his natural central midfield position.

Although the 24-year-old has played less than 20 matches this season, Moore believes it makes more sense for Blues to retain Laird, rather than sell him in the summer.

"I get the argument (about selling him), but it's a no from me," he told FLW.

"He's comfortably the best right-back at the club.

"I get that 'a player's best strength is their availability'. But, Bright Osayi-Samuel's not been good enough, and do I feel comfortable going into next season with him as our first-choice? No, not really," Moore stated.

"You can't have a central midfielder playing right-back for you all season either in Iwata. I think Laird is still, comfortably, the best right-back on his day.

"Hopefully he gets past his injuries, as he had decent availability in League One. If he gets past them, great. If not, do you potentially move him on? For me, no.

"I'd rather get somebody else and move Osayi-Samuel on as he's been really poor. That would be my stance," he added.

"On his day, Laird is (one of the) top-six right-backs in the division, because, on his day, he's absolutely quality.

"Long story short, don't get rid of him. I think he's a Premier League right-back in the making," Moore claimed.

"Move Osayi-Samuel on, as Laird is our main guy (in that position)."

Ethan Laird will hope to remind Birmingham City fans of his qualities next season

Given his struggles for fitness this season and having returned to a side short on confidence, Laird will hope to remind all Blues fans of his qualities in defence and attack next season, providing he remains injury-free.

At 24 years of age, he still has plenty of potential to fulfil, and many would argue this should also give him an edge over Osayi-Samuel, who has been inconsistent for Birmingham this season despite impressing at the African Cup of Nations for Nigeria.

Furthermore, Laird is also under contract until 2028 at present, meaning there would be no real desire from either the club or player to part ways at this moment in time.