The summer transfer window is here, and Birmingham City are wasting no time preparing for a second straight promotion push. Chris Davies’ side dominated League One last season, winning the title with a record-breaking 111 points—setting new benchmarks in both the EFL and globally.
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00:00The summer transfer window is here and Birmingham City are wasting no time preparing for a second straight promotion push.
00:08Chris Davies' side dominated League One last season, winning the title with a record-breaking 111 points, setting a new benchmark in both the EFL and globally.
00:20But while the squad was perfectly tuned for League One, the championship is a far tougher challenge.
00:25The club's hierarchy is planning on building a massive summer, aiming to strengthen across multiple positions to boost their Premier League hopes.
00:35Brighton goalkeeper James Beadle is already set to arrive on loan, but that's just the beginning.
00:40Blues are also in the market for a centre-back, central midfielder, left-winger, attacking midfielder and a striker.
00:47One name that stands out as a left-winger, Damari Gray.
00:50The 28-year-old began his career at St Andrews and is reportedly keen on a return to England after two seasons with Al-Etifak in Saudi Arabia.
01:01Al-Etifak are said to want around £8 million, though that could be negotiable.
01:06Premier League side Sunderland are also interested, but haven't yet made an approach.
01:10I didn't think it would be possible to spend, as they did in League One, again in this summer.
01:16But it turns out, as per the owner, Tom Wagner, that they're going to have one of the best revenues in the entire championship.
01:23Behind the teams that have been recently relegated from the Premier League anyway, Blues will be able to match those in the playoff fight.
01:30So I think they can go on and spend, not as much as they want, but a decent chunk again and make sure that they are ready to get promoted in the next couple of years.
01:38Gray, a Premier League winner with Leicester City in 2015-16, has top-flight pedigree, with 200 Premier League appearances across spells at Leicester and Everton, plus Champions League experience with the Foxes.
01:53He brings pace, flair and know-how.
01:56While his form has dipped in recent years, a return to the championship could be just what he needs.
02:02Birmingham, meanwhile, are seeking a clear upgrade on Emil Hansen, and Gray would fit the bill.
02:07Wages could be a hurdle, but with Gray pushing for a move home, there's optimism a deal can be done.