Birmingham City Aims To Break League One Transfer Record

Birmingham City are trying to break the current League One transfer record by signing Sparta Rotterdam attacker Tobias Lauritsen, according to German tabloid Fussball Europa.

The Blues are apparently interested in paying between £5 million and £6 million for the 26-year-old Norwegian as they aim to return to the Championship for the first time after being relegated last season.

The Midlands club is expected to spend heavily this summer following a terrible campaign in which they used six different managers over the course of a season and ended 22nd in the Championship.

However, with investment from owner Tom Wagner and an ownership group that includes NFL icon Tom Brady, Birmingham City appear to be willing to spend at amounts previously unheard of in the third division. There are reports that the club plans to spend up to £20 million this summer, with new manager Chris Davies seemingly handed as much money as he needs to try to get promoted.

Sunderland currently holds the division’s transfer record, having spent £3 million to recruit Will Grigg in 2019. If a deal for Lauritsen is completed, the record may nearly quadruple overnight.

Since signing in 2022, the Norwegian has scored 28 goals in 73 appearances across all competitions for the Eredivisie club, ending as his team’s top scorer in both seasons, including the 2022/23 season, when they narrowly lost out on European qualifying. Prior to his tenure in Rotterdam, Lauritsen spent his early career in his home country, scoring 73 goals in total, 32 of which came during a five-year stint with Eliteserien club Odd.

Despite his recent ascent, the striker, who stands roughly 6’4”, has yet to be capped by Norway’s national side, with Lauritsen trailing Manchester City star Erling Haaland in the pecking order.

Sparta’s contract with Lauritsen expires next summer, so the Dutch club will be trying to reach an agreement to avoid losing the midfielder on free transfer this time next year. A move to St Andrew’s would be a triumph for the ambitious Blues, who aren’t bashful about their goals this season.

If the transaction goes through, Birmingham City will have made a clear statement of intent. Lauritsen has top-flight experience and is entering his prime years, so he would be an excellent signing as the Blues strive to return to the second tier for the third time.

It’s a transaction that will make rival fans nervous about meeting City this season, with probably more to come from owner Wagner’s seemingly inexhaustible reservoirs of cash. One thing is certain: Birmingham is not messing around this season.