"Can't see this happening" - Pundit issues Birmingham City transfer verdict amid Stoke City interest | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer can not see Birmingham allowing Krystian Bielik to join Stoke after recent links to the Potters

Former England international Carlton Palmer does not see League One leaders Birmingham City allowing club captain Krystian Bielik to leave for Championship outfit Stoke City before the winter window shuts, amid rumours of the Potters' interest in the 27-year-old.

Bielik has been a Championship regular for years with both Derby County and current club Birmingham, amid numerous long-term injury issues, and he has surprisingly remained with the Blues in League One this season as they look set to return to the second-tier at the first time of asking.

The Potters, meanwhile, have had a quiet month on the transfer front, but boss Mark Robins will be working around the clock to add to his squad as the deadline edges ever closer.

Versatile players that can play in both midfield and in central defence are set to be on the agenda, amid injury and form issues in his squad and with Stoke currently in the midst of a relegation battle in 20th place, so it is no surprise that Bielik has been linked with a move to the bet365 Stadium this week.

Carlton Palmer offers 'vital' Krystian Bielik, Birmingham City verdict amid Stoke City links

11-time Polish international Bielik joined Blues permanently from Derby County back in 2022, and he has been able to avoid major injuries over the past two seasons, then was duly appointed club-captain by new head-coach Chris Davies ahead of this term after his standout performances despite their relegation last season.

He has played a key role in Birmingham's champions-elect campaign so far, with 26 appearances in all competitions and 18 starts in the league, but he has been forced out of the team after a short-term injury in recent weeks, with his last three outings all coming off the bench.

According to TEAMtalk reporter Fraser Fletcher, via X, Bielik is on Stoke's transfer radar ahead of next Monday's deadline, but while his quality, versatility and leadership values make him a standout in the third-tier, former Premier League player and current pundit Carlton Palmer does not foresee Blues sanctioning his St. Andrew's departure anytime soon.

“Stoke City are looking to sign Birmingham City midfielder Krystian Bielik, but I can’t see Blues letting him go,” Palmer told FLW.

“Blues sit top of the League One table, two points clear of Wycombe with two games in hand. They’re flying at the moment.

“The impression that Birmingham boss Chris Davies was giving when Krystian was brought up was that he wasn’t a player that would be leaving anytime soon.

“He’s been out with a bit of an injury and he’s easing him back in. The aim is to get promotion back to the Championship for next season.

“I can’t see this happening, and I can’t see Birmingham letting him go. Their aim is to get back to the Championship and they’re going good guns.

“Davies has made it clear that Bielik is not a player that he would want to let go, and why would he? He’s a talented player.

“It’s not something that I think the Birmingham City boss is going to entertain. I don’t think he is looking at anyone leaving the club, if anything he is looking to bring players in.

“Bielik is considered a vital component in Davies’ team, so I can’t see him going to Stoke.”

Birmingham will make a deal for Bielik tricky for Stoke

Birmingham currently sit top of League One, and so it would be a shock to see them get rid of any first-team regulars so late on in this transfer window, especially given Chris Davies' previous reluctance to allow players to leave unless a replacement is lined up.

Bielik was out injured for two games at the start of this month, and boss Davies provided an update on his fitness ahead of his side's midweek trip to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening, with an insistence that the 27-year-old is set to play a key role for the rest of this season, which shows how tough it could be for the Potters to sign him anytime soon.

"He's going well. Like a few of them, they've had injuries, a couple of weeks out, and then we're bringing them back into games before they've had much training so they're almost getting fit through playing the games," Davies told Birmingham's club media channels.

"He's had a cameo role against Exeter then he's had another short period against Wrexham.

"He's building up but he hasn't had the training that is sometimes necessary. But he's fit and available and ready to go and he's going to be an important player for us going forward."

Those quotes do not have the feel of a head-coach that would be happy to see his club-captain depart so late in the January window, so Birmingham supporters can likely relax as Monday's deadline creeps ever closer, with Bielik set to at least see out the season at St Andrews.

Stoke are in dire need of a new addition like the Polish international to help them survive in the Championship this season, but they may have to move on from chasing his services soon, especially given their current financial situation and the likely high fee that Blues would demand to prise him from B9 this week.