Town are hoping to sign AFC Wimbledon striker Ali Al-Hamadi before the transfer window closes next Thursday.
Two new number nines have been top of the Blues’ wish-list throughout January and Town now have their sights on Al-Hamadi.
The 21-year-old is currently away with Iraq at the AFC Asian Cup, helping them to top their group, which also included Elkan Baggott’s Indonesia.
Al-Hamadi was born in Iraq but moved to Liverpool in 2003 as a one-year-old during the Iraq War.
Having been a youth player with Tranmere and Swansea, the 6ft 2in tall frontman joined Wycombe Wanderers in 2021 following a trial but made his first senior appearances during a loan spell in the National League with Bromley.
Having been a regular for the Chairboys in League One throughout 2021/22 and in the first half of the following season, Al-Hamadi, who has been capped 12 times by Iraq, scoring three goals, moved on to Wimbledon in League Two on a free transfer in January 2023.
Since then, he has scored 27 goals in 40 starts and eight sub appearances for the Wombles, including 17 this season.
In December, Peterborough were linked with a £1.5 million move for Al-Hamadi, a claim which was subsequently dismissed by Posh.
He missed Wimbledon’s recent FA Cup tie with the Blues as he was away at the Asian Cup.
With Iraq having hopes of progressing a long way into the competition, Al-Hamadi may not be available to the Blues until more than a week into February should a deal be done before the Thursday 1st February 11pm deadline.
The Blues are in need of two strikers during this window with Dane Scarlett having been recalled by parent club Spurs and George Hirst having undergone hamstring surgery which will keep him out for most of the rest of the season.
Long-time target Jay Stansfield is set to stay on loan at Birmingham from Fulham the Midlanders have confirmed, while we understand there has been no progress on the Blues’ move for Blackburn striker Sam Gallagher, while it’s reported that former Town striker Kieffer Moore is now expected to stay at AFC Bournemouth.