League One side Birmingham City make stunning £10 million bid for player on deadline day

Newly-relegated League One side Birmingham City have made a stunning bid of around £10 million to sign striker Jay Stansfield, it has been reported.

The Blues were relegated from the Championship last season after going through five managers, including Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney.

The club's new American ownership had made heavy investments into the playing staff, which made dropping down to the third tier even more devastating.

But the spending hasn't stopped despite relegation, with Birmingham desperate to make it back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

The summer started with the signing of prolific striker Alfie May from Charlton, with the Blues paying £775,000 as an initial fee and a reported £16,000 salary to the player.

Centre-back Christoph Klarer arrived from German side Darmstadt for an undisclosed fee, while Lyndon Dykes left Championship side QPR to move to St Andrews for £1 million.

Scott Wright has arrived from Rangers on deadline day, while a series of loan deals have been brokered.

But Birmingham now look set to smash their previous spending out of the water with an astonishing bid for Fulham striker Stansfield.

The 21-year-old, who spent last season on loan at the Blues, became a popular figure among the St Andrew's faithful and scored 12 league goals.

He memorably scored a 95th-minute winner against Plymouth Argyle on his Championship debut for the club.

“Welcome to Birmingham City, Jay Stansfield!” 🤌

The boy from Exeter, scoring a 95th-minute winner on his debut - against Argyle! 👀

The commentary, the slow-mo, the celebrations… 😍

It’s an #AlternativeAngle for the ages. 🤓

(Credit - @BCFC) #BCFC pic.twitter.com/DrjyzmpPuu

— Not The Top 20 Pod (@NTT20Pod) August 27, 2023

He was expected to play an increased role at Craven Cottage this term, and scored in Fulham's 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Birmingham on Wednesday.

But according to The Telegraph's John Percy, the West Midlands side are attempting to bring him back to the club in stunning fashion, with the official bid being between £9 and £10 million.

It goes without saying that the deal would smash the League One transfer record by some distance, which currently stands at the £3 million Sunderland paid to sign Will Grigg in 2019 - although some outlets report that the deal for Klarer broke that record.

If completed, the deal for Stansfield will pile the pressure on the Blues and head coach Chris Davies to deliver promotion from the third tier.

They have won two and drawn one of their opening League One games this season.