Birmingham City Close To Agreeing Deal With Former Championship Rivals Striker

Birmingham City, relegated from the Championship, are close to signing former Coventry City and Swindon Town striker Lukas Jutkiewicz to a new contract, Birmingham Live reports.

The 35-year-old striker is close to signing a new contract with the League One club after making 330 appearances in eight years. Jutkiewicz’s contract was set to expire this summer, raising concerns about his future due to his age and the short time remaining on his present term.

Starting his senior career at Swindon Town, the Southampton-born centre-forward went on to play for Everton, Plymouth Argyle, Everton, Huddersfield Town, Motherwell, Coventry City, Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, and Birmingham, where he joined on loan in 2016 before signing permanently six months later in the winter window.

Can Jutkiewicz still deliver for Birmingham City?

Although the striker’s effect on the pitch has lessened in recent years, his influence behind the scenes cannot be exaggerated. His leadership and expertise might be invaluable to a team attempting to rebound from a dismal season. With nearly 100 goals in the second tier, he will most certainly know how to score when moving down a division.

At 35, he is likely to be offered only a one-year contract, but if he continues to stay healthy, he might play in the EFL far into his 30s. Jamie Vardy, on a different level, is expected to play beyond his 38th birthday next year for Premier League club Leicester City.

Several analysts have named Birmingham City as the favourites for League One next season, as they strive to return to the second division and avoid a destiny similar to Portsmouth, Derby County, and Ipswich Town, who spent numerous years in the third tier.