Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Alex Smithies has been linked with a move to fellow Sky Bet Championship side Birmingham City.
According to The Sun journalist, Alan Nixon, the 28-year-old is a target of Garry Monk’s side to replace David Stockdale.
However, as Nixon describes on Twitter, a large part of any potential more for Smithies is largely dependent on whether The Blues are able to sell current first-choice ‘keeper Stockdale, who has struggled during his first season in the West Midlands.
Despite guiding Brighton and Hove Albion to the Premier League in his final full season on the south coast 12 months ago, Stockdale has struggled to emulate that form this season, keeping just seven clean sheets in 39 appearances in all competitions which may have decreased in potential interest in the 32-year-old.
Nixon believes that if The Blues’ current ‘keeper exits in the coming months, then Smithies will be a key target for them.
Despite Stockdale’s poor campaign, Smithies’ rate of clean sheets has been even less frequent than that of Birmingham’s current stopper, having managed just seven shutouts in 44 appearances during the 2017/18 campaign.
According to Transfermarkt, Smithies has a current price valuation of £3 million, as well as two years left on his current contract at Loftus Road.
Smithies has been with The Hoops since August 2015, having signed from hometown club and now Premier League side, Huddersfield Town for £500,000.
During his three full seasons in West London, Smithies has made 109 appearances for QPR and mustered 20 clean sheets.
In the Championship this season, Smithies has averaged a match rating of 6.45/10 according to Whoscored.com, whilst the man he is set to replace, Stockdale, has been marginally better with a average score of 6.52/10.
Since Stockdale’s professional career begun in 2003 with York City, he has played for 12 different teams, earning him the reputation of a journeyman, therefore, it would not be surprising to seem relocate once again.
