Birmingham City plan to copy Sunderland and Burnley transfer trick this summer in search of Championship advantage
Birmingham City are preparing to blow the Championship away with their spending power this summer after their record-breaking League One title win.
Buoyed by their record-breaking 111 points tally League One title win this season, Birmingham City are hunting for successive promotions next term.
Under owner Tom Wagner, Birmingham have put an “aggressive transfer strategy” in place for the 2025/26 Championship campaign, to provide head coach Chris Davies with as many reinforcements as possible to secure a Premier League return.
Phil Neumann has already arrived from Hannover 96 as the Blues push to sign Kwame Poku from Peterborough.
The eye-watering sum of money Birmingham can offer new signings, at £30k-per-week, makes the club a promising proposition for top talent on their radar.
As the transfer window goes through the gears, EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal the Blues’ transfer trick intentions this summer.
Birmingham City plan to copy Sunderland and Burnley transfer trick
EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal, via information from our Chief Football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Birmingham are planning to emulate the transfer trick employed by Sunderland and Burnley this season within the summer window.
The Blues’ spending power is substantial, and as they hunt for Premier League promotion next season, loan-to-buy transfer deals will become a key component of their recruitment strategy this summer.
Enzo Le Fee arrived at Sunderland on loan from Italian giants Roma in January on an initial loan deal, with an obligation to buy for a reported £20million fee, if the Black Cats beat Sheffield United in Saturday’s Championship play-off final.
Marcus Edwards arrived in January at Turf Moor on an initial loan deal, and their promotion has seen the right-winger now become a permanent Burnley player given the obligation to buy clause in that deal.
Where the Blues are concerned, Bailey revealed: “That type of loan-to-buy deal is going to become more and more common, especially with the non-Premier League clubs, the teams that aren’t coming down with parachute payments; obviously those clubs can do deals anyway.
“But the teams like Sunderland and Middlesbrough, who know if they get promoted they can afford it.
“It might be that we even see a few from Birmingham and Wrexham as well, especially Birmingham who are confident about going up.
“It’s all very well Wrexham offering that deal but, no disrespect to Wrexham, I don’t think they’re going to be amongst the favourites for promotion.
“But Birmingham will be, so if Birmingham are offering you that sort of deal you’re probably more inclined to accept it.”
As seen with the fortunes of Sunderland and Burnley this season, the calibre of signings able to be made with loan-to-buy clauses can alter the course of a club’s campaign for the better.
Transfer trick can get Birmingham City promoted to Premier League
Le Fee has been instrumental in Sunderland’s play-off campaign, providing an assist in both semi-final legs against Coventry City, with his corner setting up Dan Ballard for a last-second winner.
Since Edwards arrived at Turf Moor, their attacking flair has mirrored their defensive resolve, with Scott Parker’s side seeing an increase in goals scored, big chances created, and a benefit to win percentage following the former Sporting ace’s arrival.
Le Fee and Edwards have been pivotal to the promotion prospects of their respective sides, and players of similar ilk can thus be targeted by the Blues this summer, with their intention to emulate that transfer trick.
Loan-to-buy clauses widen the margin for quality in transfer targets, and with the Blues’ financial muscle set to be flexed, this summer they could be bound to make some headline-grabbing signings.
With the window already underway, Torino striker Che Adams has been linked with a move to Birmingham, and Danny Ings has also emerged as a forward target for the Blues.
