Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive includes the story of Blues’ deadline day after Alex Pritchard completes Tony Mowbray’s first transfer window.
After Alex Pritchard was officially announced as Birmingham City’s third acquisition of the transfer window on Thursday morning, Tony Mowbray left the office at 11 p.m.
Not long after it was reported that Josh Andrews would be moving to Gillingham, staff members were sent home. It was the last act of the window for Blues.
During his press conference at 2:00 pm, Mowbray acknowledged that more hires were doubtful. The Blues had someone set up to join as a custodian, but they were unable to let rid of anyone to free up funds for the position in their roster.
The Blues would have permitted Keshi Anderson, 28, to go five months before his contract expires if he had drawn interest. Pritchard’s signing adds another roadblock in Anderson’s path to a starting position with the Blues.
See the notes from Tony Mowbray’s press conference about Alex Pritchard’s pitch and transfer realities.
READ: Tony Mowbray provides a £22 million point breakdown of Birmingham City’s Jordan James stance.
Nevertheless, Anderson chose to stick around and compete for his spot, having won his Blues contract the hard way with a strong preseason trial. Players like Anderson, Scott Hogan, and several others who have contracts expiring soon are aware that their spots in the 20-man roster are currently unreserved.
Mowbray now has 27 senior players available, even if you take Alfie Chang, a long-term absence, out of the picture. Match day squads including notable non-injured absences will soon become the standard.
But with John Ruddy sidelined due to injury, he just has one senior custodian. Although BirminghamLive has been informed that the injury is not significant, the Blues are concerned enough about it to make way for an emergency loan signing in case Etheridge, his backup, is also hurt. It’s important to release Zach Jeacock from his contract.
Because Mowbray has first team experience, the EFL would have been forced to play Jeacock in the event that Etheridge was injured. Jeacock made four games for Blues in the Championship; the last one was in a 6-1 loss to Blackpool in April 2022. Jeacock spent the first part of this season on loan at Gloucester City, a National League North team. The 19-year-old goalie Bradley Mayo is anticipated to
Jordan James’ continued status as a Blues player is a plus. His reputation and price tag will only rise with more time spent working with Mowbray and a potential European Championships campaign with Wales. Mowbray has already begun to be compared to Adam Wharton, a 19-year-old Championship midfielder who signed with Crystal Palace on deadline day for a deal that increased to £22 million.
A wild card is always included, and Ian Poveda’s name was added in the end. The custodian that the Blues desired could not be signed, much less a 12th attacker. Poveda left Leeds United to sign a loan with Sheffield Wednesday.
Blues concluded the window with no significant exits and three inexpensive additions. Well done, Mowbray, Craig Gardner, and associates.
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