Birmingham City urged to seal permanent Sunderland AFC transfer deal - 'he's exactly what we've been screaming out for' | OneFootball

FLW's Birmingham City fan pundit would love to see loan signing Patrick Roberts stick around at St. Andrews

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

With just under a third of the Championship season played, Birmingham City's return to the second tier has been steady, as many fans had big expectations for the Blues after a record-breaking League One campaign last term.

The budget at Birmingham City's disposal combined with fresh faces at St. Andrews following their busy summer transfer window naturally led to Blues fans having high hopes for their side now back in the second tier, and with 15 games played, they sit comfortably in 11th-place, merely four points off the play-off places.

'Inconsistent' is a suitable word to use for Chris Davies' side this year. However, after making the step-up to the Championship, the increased level of competition was always going to prove a challenge.

Arrivals such as the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray and Tommy Doyle are certainly creating a buzz amongst the Blues' fanbase, but one man who has really taken to his new surroundings well is Patrick Roberts, after completing a loan deal from the now-Premier League outfit, Sunderland.

The creative wideman has been that spark that Davies needed in his ranks and has already shown his worth by quickly becoming an instant hit. Roberts has an abundance of Championship experience to his name with the Black Cats and that has shone through.

With the 28-year-old's time with Birmingham City set to run out in June 2026, it wouldn't come as a surprise if the Blues try to secure his services for the long-term, and that could even come as soon as January.

Birmingham City urged to sign Patrick Roberts on a permanent deal from Sunderland

For many Blues fans, they have been mightily impressed with the impact that Roberts has had on his new club in such a short space of time. You would say that his short-term signing has paid off, but with his introduction coming with very little risk due to the low cost, Davies certainly landed a gem.

Football League World's Birmingham City fan pundit, Jason, believes that Roberts is exactly what Birmingham have needed for a while, and to make his time with the club permanent once January comes around would be warmly welcomed by the majority of the fanbase.

Jason said: "I could probably sit here and say I'd love to sign this player, I'd love to sign this player, I'd love to sign that player. But for me, and I think you'd probably get the same answer from a lot of Blues fans at the moment, there is only one player we should be signing yesterday, never mind in January and that is Patrick Roberts."

"My God, what a player he has been, and he's exactly what we've been screaming out for."

"I feel more confident about him taking on a man than I do Demarai Gray, and the fact that he can go on his left, go on his right, the bloke is absolutely fantastic, and he's exactly what Chris Davies wants as well."

"He's someone that's tidy on the ball, can quite easily come in and play that number 10 role, or he can stay out wide. He's literally been for me the perfect signing."

Birmingham City should snap up Patrick Roberts as soon as January comes around

With the January transfer window being a time when clubs can regroup in terms of personnel and tweak their squads in areas that perhaps need improvement for the second half of the season, in Birmingham City's case with Patrick Roberts, it's quite the opposite, as losing a player of his quality could lead to the Blues taking a step back when it comes to their attacking options.

Players with the pedigree of Gray and Jay Stansfield have been aided by the presence of Roberts due to his acute link-up play that has made Birmingham City such a threat this season.

Therefore, if the Blues were to lose Roberts back to Sunderland come the end of the season, it would certainly be a tough pill to swallow for the Blues who could be haunted by the saying 'don't fall in love with a loan player.'

FLW's Birmingham City fan pundit, Jason, believes that of all the players the Blues could potentially sign in January, keeping Roberts on their roster would be the best belated Christmas presence for those involved at St. Andrews.

Jason said: "He's not even someone I would've thought about in the summer, to be fair, because I just would've assumed that Sunderland would've wanted to keep him."

"Patrick Roberts, we should've signed him yesterday to be honest, so get him in January. 1st January, Patrick Roberts, get that deal done. Do not risk losing him because, what a player, and what a player he has been."