Chris Davies offers huge message on Paik Seung-ho transfer claim amid Leeds and Sheffield United interest

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies maintains he was always optimistic the club would be able to keep midfielder Paik Seung-ho despite rumors about his future throughout the summer transfer season.

Birmingham had a busy summer following their relegation from the Championship, with several incomings and outgoings at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park as Davies rebuilt his squad.

The ambitious Blues board aggressively backed Davies in the transfer market this summer, spending an estimated £24 million during the window, including a projected £15 million for Fulham striker Jay Stansfield, breaking the League One transfer record.

Sales were unavoidable following relegation, and the likes of Jordan James, Juninho Bacuna, Alex Pritchard, Koji Miyoshi, and Siriki Dembele were among those who left, but Birmingham did manage to keep some of their stars, with Paik being one example of a player who has surprisingly remained at the club in the third division.

Keeping Paik has shown to be a wise business decision, as he has shined in the early stages of the season and has helped the Blues win five consecutive league games, propelling them to second place in the League One table.

Chris Davies issues Paik Seung-ho transfer claim

Paik joined Birmingham from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in January, and he was one of the few players to emerge unscathed from their poor Championship season, shining in the second half of the season.

The 27-year-old netted the winner for the Blues in a 1-0 victory over Norwich City on the final day of the season, but it was insufficient to avoid the club’s relegation, and some fans worried he would leave in the summer.

Sunderland were connected with a move for Paik, and Blackburn Rovers, managed by former Birmingham manager John Eustace, were also thought to be interested, but he stayed at St Andrews @ Knighthead Park.

According to journalist Mike McGrath, the Blues spurned out bids for Paik on deadline day, and Championship promotion contenders Leeds United and Sheffield United expressed interest in the midfielder during the window.

Paik appears to have had a long list of suitors this summer, but Davies believes he was always certain the club would be able to retain the South Korean international, and he expects him to play an important role in the coming years.

“There would have been interest in him, but I was very clear all along that he will be a crucial player this season and in the coming years. He’s a fantastic player and a fantastic person. In my mind, there was no genuine risk of losing him. “He has been excellent thus far and must maintain those standards,” Davies told BirminghamLive.

Retaining Paik Seung-ho was crucial for Birmingham City

It seemed obvious that Paik would leave Birmingham this summer following relegation, but the board deserves credit for keeping the midfielder, and it is yet another evidence of their desire.

With interest from Leeds and Sheffield United, it would have been easy for the Blues to cash in on Paik, and he might have pushed to leave, but the fact that he wanted to stay is a strong endorsement of the club’s promising ambition.

In reality, Paik is far too excellent for League One, and after impressing in the early stages of the season alongside Marc Leonard, his performance levels have risen even higher after Tomoki Iwata’s arrival from Celtic.

Paik and Iwata could easily fit into most Championship teams, demonstrating Davies’ remarkable depth of talent, and the two will be critical to the Blues’ promotion ambitions this season.