By james art 
Birmingham City have made a great start to their bid for promotion to League One this season.
The Blues are looking to regain their place in the Championship at the first attempt after being relegated the previous campaign.
Chris Davies was appointed manager in the summer with the task of overseeing a top-two finish, taking on his first role as the man in charge at a club.
The Midlands outfit had a busy summer transfer window as they looked to build a squad capable of finishing in the top two.
They will now also plan the upcoming January window to strengthen their position in the automatic promotion places.
Here we look at the best and worst case scenarios Birmingham could face in the winter market…
Best Case: More ambitious signings made
Birmingham received a lot of attention and criticism for their lavish spending in the summer, in particular the fee spent on Jay Stansfield.
According to Sky Sports, the forward cost the Blues more than £15m, breaking the Ligue 1 transfer record.
However, say what you will about the transfer, it’s clearly a great sign of the owners’ ambition for the club.
The January window presents another opportunity to splash the cash in their quest to return to the Championship at the first attempt.
In an ideal scenario, Birmingham will have the wherewithal to make at least one more mega signing to bolster Davies’ squad given the stiff competition they face for the top two spots in the table this year.
Best Case: Lukas Jutkiewicz made a decision
Lukas Jutkiewicz continues to fall down the rankings at Birmingham as he enters the final years of his career.
The 35-year-old’s contract expires in 2025, so a decision on his future will need to be made sooner rather than later.
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If a decision can be made by January then it gives Birmingham the all clear to enter the winter market.
The Poland international is unlikely to be sold at this stage in his career, but a concrete answer as to what’s next for him could give Birmingham a head start in the search for his replacement.
Given the lack of game time, another extension from the Blues looks unlikely at this stage.
Worst case: Paik Seung-ho exits
Late in the summer transfer window, it was reported by Mike McGrath that Paik Seung-ho had been offered a return to the Championship with interest from Leeds United and Sheffield United.
However, Birmingham stood firm and opted to keep hold of the player who has proven his importance to the club with his impressive performances so far this season.
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Paik Seung-ho – Birmingham City goals and league appearances (via Fbref.com) |
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Season |
Appearances (starts) |
Goals (Assists) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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2023-24 |
18 (15) |
1 (0) |
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2024-25 |
12 |
0 (1) |
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As of October 30 |
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A new contract signed earlier this month suggests there should be very little concern over his immediate future.
However, with both Leeds and Sheffield United in the mix for Championship promotion, both clubs renewing their interest in the 27-year-old could cause problems.
It’s hard to think of too many worse-case scenarios than one of the Premier League suitors turning the midfielder’s head and offloading him in January – even if the new deal means the price will be significant.