, Birmingham: Blues keen on Derby’s Russell – Brighton ready to gazump

Birmingham: Blues keen on Derby’s Russell – Brighton ready to gazump

As the January transfer window begins to edge towards only single figures left to endure, clubs are still jockeying for position and players.

One of these clubs is Birmingham City who currently sit in a mid-table position of 12th in the Sky Bet Championship. One of the players that they have their eyes on, according to the Birmingham Mail, is Derby County’s Scottish international Johnny Russell.

Blues manager Zola, quoted in the Birmingham Mail, admitted that the Scot is one player that the club have their eyes on saying: “Johnny is a very good player and he plays in a position where we are looking so he is one of the players we had a look at but he’s not the only one.”

The stumbling block is said to be the price with a figure of £3.5 million being quoted in certain quarters. However, regarding the fee to be paid, Sun journalist Alan Nixon says on Twitter (below) that second-placed Championship side Brighton are waiting in the wings and seemingly ready to pounce.

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Birmingham’s form has dipped somewhat over the last six games with the Blues picking up only five points from a possible 18 on offer and with their last five games being winless.

Russell has made 20 appearances for the Rams this season with 15 of these being starts with the winger scoring his only goal in the 1-0 home win against Leeds United in October. Since that goal he has managed only 733 minutes of football for Derby over 12 appearances, averaging 61 minutes apiece.

Signing Russell will hopefully give Birmingham that impetus and push to put them back on a winning track. Last season the Derby left-wing scored nine goals, and set up 10 assists over the course of 45 appearances. It will be this potential that the Blues will be hoping that his signature will bring to their St Andrews home.

Beware the lurking Seagulls though.

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