This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
Birmingham City finally have their sights on a forward it would seem.
And it’s someone that should be familiar to Blues fans, as he’s got pedigree when it comes to this division.
What’s been said?
According to the Sun on Sunday (print edition, 3/11, page 61), Birmingham are said to be interested in bringing in Nahki Wells from Burnley.
It’s understood that the Clarets will want £6m to part with the 29-year-old forward and that’s not the only battle that Clotet and his men face.
Wells is currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers, and with a record of 7 goals in 13 league games so far this season (via Transfermarkt) if he keeps that sort of form going or improves it, Burnley might decide that £6m isn’t enough to make them part company.
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A risk, but at least it’s a known risk
When you look at his overall record in the Championship of 59 goals in 197 games (via Transfermarkt), there’s no doubt that he can get you goals in this division.
As we have been documenting on FFC for some time now, the club needs someone else besides Lukas Jutkiewicz to provide the goals if Birmingham are to have any chance of success this season. So there’s no doubt that he can help them out in that department.
It isn’t as if you’re taking a swing at a player from abroad that nobody has heard of that could be boom or bust. You know what you’re signing up for.
The big concern would be the cost of it. £6m is an awful lot of money for a club like Birmingham to spend on someone who is fast approaching 30-years-old. When you consider that he has only got six months left on his contract at Turf Moor (via Transfermarkt), it’s a huge sign of desperation to be willing to pay that much for someone in that situation and at this stage of their career.
If the goal is to get into the Premier League this season, where £6m is a drop in the ocean compared to the vast fortunes that come with being in the division, then it’s a gamble the club has to take.
However, if that bid falls short, then it could ultimately end up being a huge anchor around the club for the next couple of seasons, especially with Financial Fair Play looming over them after their punishment last year.
