Birmingham City are hoping to bring Jay Stansfield back to the club in current transfer window, while Fulham are about to make an expensive forward acquisition.
Fulham are ready to smash their transfer record by signing Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe, while Birmingham City awaits the destiny of former loanee Jay Stansfield.
The Premier League Cottagers are closing closure on an agreement to bring forward Smith Rowe, an academy product, across London for up to £35 million. After selling Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich this summer, Marco Silva’s team now has money to spend, and they’re doing so with Smith Rowe, who will improve their final third options.
Silva has Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, Alex Iwobi, Harry Wilson, Willian (although he has turned down a contract offer) and Rodrigo Muniz at his disposal this pre-season, as well as the returning Stansfield – the Exeter City academy product who scored 13 goals and won all five end-of-season awards last season with the Blues.
Despite relegation, Blues fans adored Stansfield, and many are excited about the prospect of him returning on a permanent basis; the 21-year-old has been linked with a return to Blues, who have been busy signing eight new players this summer ahead of their League One season and would be interested in a deal to bring Stansfield back.
Fulham, who have also re-signed academy product Ryan Sessegnon on a free transfer after being released by Tottenham at the end of last season, are likely to keep their powder dry for the time being as they ponder what role Stansfield will play under Silva in the top tier.
However, the Smith Rowe development increases competition in the final third for a group that already has a lot of offensive potential. The Blues have also been linked with a move for another Fulham youngster, Wales youth international Luke Harris, 19, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Exeter in League One.
