Birmingham City are reportedly ready to offer the Blues £3 million for keeper Bartosz Bialkowski and Town may make a loan move for Bolton’s Ben Amos as his replacement.

Birmingham’s interest in Bialkowski first emerged on Friday and, according to The Sun on Sunday, the Midlanders are willing to make a £3 million bid for the Polish international.

While it would be a hugely unpopular move with fans, Town may well be prepared to take an offer of around that size for the 31-year-old rather than risk losing one of their most highly-prized assets on a free transfer next summer.

Bialkowski is contracted to the Blues until the end of June 2019, the club having exercised the option for a further year on his contract at the end of last season.

But the former Southampton and Notts County man is still to put pen to paper on the new deal ex-boss Mick McCarthy said had been agreed in January.

Speaking in April, Bialkowski said his agent was continuing to talk to owner Marcus Evans regarding the new terms.

The Sun claims Town could look to replace Bialkowski, the club’s Player of the Year for the last three seasons, with Amos, 28.

The 6ft 3in tall former Crewe Alexandra and Manchester United trainee spent last season on loan with Charlton in League One where he was ever-present, making 50 starts.

Macclesfield-born Amos made seven senior appearances for the Red Devils while at Old Trafford but spent much of his time out on loan, featuring for Peterborough, Molde, Oldham, Hull City, Carlisle and Bolton before making his switch to the Trotters permanent in 2015 when he signed a four-year deal.

However, having dropped to second choice at the Macron Stadium, he joined Cardiff on loan for 2016/17 - making 16 starts - and then the Addicks last season.

Despite not having played for Bolton for two years and appearing to be out of their long-term plans, Amos, who was linked with Millwall last month, went on their pre-season training camp in Scotland.

“Ben’s with the first team now and we’ll see what happens, whether a club comes in for him,” manager Phil Parkinson told The Bolton News.

“You can see he had a good year with Charlton. He came back and worked very hard with [goalkeeper-coach] Lee [Butler] and the other keepers so you really don’t know what might happen.

“There have been one or two enquiries but I think his confidence has been helped enormously.”

On Friday, Scottish reports linked with the Blues with Wes Foderingham, who is set to depart Rangers this summer, and it is believed Town have made preliminary contact regarding the 27-year-old, who is also viewed as a possible replacement should Bialkowski move on.

Summer interest in Bialkowski, who is currently away having been given time off following the World Cup, had been widely expected due to his contract situation and with Crystal Palace having targeted him in January.

Elsewhere in Sunday's papers, AFC Bournemouth are reported to be willing to offload former Blues left-back Tyrone Mings to Nottingham Forest after an injury-hit three years with the Cherries.

Mings, 25, has made 11 starts and four sub appearances - four starts and one sub appearance last season - since moving to Dean Court for an initial £8 million in June 2015.

Photos: TWTD/Action Images

Grampy73 added 11:03 - Jul 8 Look if Bart wants to leave then we should just wish him well and thank him for playing his heart out in game. It's football these things happen get over it. over the years we have always had good keepers, and we'll find another one.
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Grampy73 added 11:04 - Jul 8 Look if Bart wants to leave then we should just wish him well and thank him for playing his heart out in game. It's football these things happen get over it. over the years we have always had good keepers, and we'll find another one.
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OwainG1992 added 11:06 - Jul 8 100% We shouldn't accept. 100% he shouldn't go there. If he leaves us it should be for a prem team or perhaps a Swansea if they offer 6/7 mill.
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bluehook added 11:15 - Jul 8 “The Sun says”.........😂
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 11:18 - Jul 8 Every player is replaceable, as much as we would all love him to stay. If we do cash in then BART is worth £5-6 million. Hopefully cash can be used for another centre back and decent striker. I don't think Bart himself would want to go to Brum but if a Prem team came in then he will Go.
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midastouch added 11:23 - Jul 8 Bart would be a massive loss. He's saved us so many points in the last few seasons. I'll be gutted if he goes but then if he wants to go what can we do. But £3 million seems way too low to me. And Birmingham!!?? Hardly a dream move is it!
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:23 - Jul 8 If Bart is sold for 3 million it underlines the state of the club with Evans at the helm. Wcant even beat off championship clubs wanting our best player /players. 3 MILLION IS SMALL CHEESE in todays game. And to bring in a loan keeper is an insult. Evans wont spend on players ,but happy to sell them off. Seems to me we will be selling our best players to build a league 1 team.Early optimism is rapidly evaporating.

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casanovacrow added 11:44 - Jul 8 Would see more value in keeping him for one last season than taking 3m. Why he'd want to goto Birmingham is beyond me though, he's much better than that.
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rollercoastertown added 11:56 - Jul 8 If a better club wants him, then they know the price. If nobody is prepared to pay any more for Bart, then that is his value. If he wants to leave then he will have to go to a club that is prepared to pay his value, not sure Birmingham was initially the club he had in mind, but he has had many months to sign a new contract with Town, and as he has opted not to I guess Birmingham or a club of similar status it shall be.

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itfchorry added 11:58 - Jul 8 = Big Hole in the goal If true - Total madness - Just pay him what he is worth Evans.
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Kulturarv added 12:03 - Jul 8 Marcus Scrooge - Please surprise us!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 12:09 - Jul 8 West Brom or a Swansea maybe but other than that I don't know why he would want to go to another champ club. PL or nothing surely
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blueblood_soldier added 12:13 - Jul 8 If Bart leaves then it was his decision as we know the club would like him to sign a new contract... that will be 3.5 mil rising for Webster and 3 mil plus for Bart.. so why are we buying bargain basement players? I'm up for lower league players trying to better themselves but would like a small payment for some quality lower league players rather than having a punt on someone... COYBs

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budgieplucker added 12:17 - Jul 8 I can understand the club wanting to maximise on it assets, but it shouldn't be underestimated how much confidence an outstanding goalkeeper can give the defence and team in front of it. It is fair to say we would have several less points over the last 3 seasons if it hadn't been for Bart. Given that we are at the beginning of a new era I personally think loosing 3 million by keeping Bart to the end of next season is still well worth considering to give stability for the manager to evolve the team in his style. I think player of the season 3 seasons on the run really says it all.

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cat added 12:20 - Jul 8 Personally don't want to lose Bart as he's been our standout player. If we can strengthen our defence I don't think him going will be the end of the world. Let's not forget here he's made a few errors along the way, not the best at commanding his area and his distribution ain't the best either. Good luck Bart, great servant, but replaceable imo.
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Dog added 12:29 - Jul 8 Have we been told what the season ticket sales are??. There were many fans willing to purchase as soon as mick left the club but i am waiting to see what investment (if any) Mr Evans was going to put into the club. With less than four weeks to go we are now dismantling the spine of the team. We have jack all centre backs (ok webster was a sicknote). We are short in attack and appear to have no fit goalie. Now hopefully when BB reports back to first team training on monday he may well have a good meeting with Hurst and sign on but the signs are not looking good. It perturbs me that despite all his money the stadium is looking shoddy, the pitch is shabby and the gym was antiquated. What has been going on???. I agree with previous posters that we need experience but what experienced player is going to come for below par wages and a team of youth or inexperienced lower league players. We are starting to look like the southern version of Blackpool FC.

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norfsufblue added 12:41 - Jul 8 He has 1 year left on contract.... only way we will get more is with Premier League interest and a bidding war or we spend resources on improving his contract drastically! Id hate to see him go but its football in 2018 unfortunately!
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floridaboy added 12:45 - Jul 8 If Birmingham offer him a decent signing fee then he will go. Players are only interested in their bank balance. Anyone who thinks different live in cuckoo land. Greed will drive Bart away. Just have a healthy bank balance but sadly most footballers want more. Trouble is he has been away with the national team where some are earning very big money so jealousy kicks in. Take the money and move on. How about Walker from Colchester!

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leftie1972 added 12:45 - Jul 8 I'm going to echo what has already been said by plenty of other fans. A) 3 million is a ridiculously low amount to a accept for Bart (if indeed the club was to accept an offer like that). B) getting in a loan goalie for the season, even if they are an ex Man Utd Goalie is very risky. C) this will no doubt kill any chance of either getting out of the championship or achieving a decent finish because the squad will be so disjointed with newbies/loanees there will be very little understanding between them And most importantly D) I'm not sure the fans would forgive Bart, Marcus or PH for selling him!

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casanovacrow added 12:51 - Jul 8 it seems this story originated with journalist Alan Nixon on twitter, who has a reputation for tosh. http://biffbifferson.blogspot.com/2011/02/alan-nixon-says-so-result.html
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ArnieM added 12:54 - Jul 8 Barts not good enough for Premier League IMHO. He's a great reflex shot stopper it's true. And yes he's got POY for three years here but his general goal keeping skills ( kicking, box command and ball catching) are average. There's more to goal keeping than reflex shot parries. Our defence is generally crap and he has shone in that back line. But I'd have no doubt that we get just as good s keeper in when he goes . Bart IMO has never intended to stay. That contract has been there to sign for SIX months . He wants to go into the bigger stage. Good luck to him. But despite how Town fans feel about him the simple truth is ZPL Clubs are hardly queuing up for him are they! Please place your down arrows below. I'm not concerned that you don't agree with my opinion.

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bluearmy78 added 12:57 - Jul 8 Why would Bart even consider joining B'ham unless they are going to double his wages! He's proven by playing for Town that he can get into the Polish national squad, why go to another Championship side who I very much doubt will be challenging for promotion. B'ham obviously think by offering 3 mil we will accept it & if he did go I don't want a keeper in on loan I would like a perm signing! Stay where you are happy Bart with your family, sign your new contract & see us back in to the promise land! COYB

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Tretty1 added 13:04 - Jul 8 I don't think he will go to Birmingham. I think it would need to be a big step up from town for him move on. Fingers crossed for us that step up doesn't come in for him. At least it sounds like the club are on the search for a replacement keeper should it happen. Good the have a plan b just in case.
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blues1 added 13:12 - Jul 8 Why does anyone think a pl club would want him? Yes hes a great shot stopper but hes not great at commanding his area and his distribution( a bid part of goalkeeping in the pl), is often very poor. Im not knocking him as hes def been our best player for past 3 seasons but with hopefully a better defence this year the keeper wont be called on as often anyway. And £3m for a player with just 1 year left on their contract is frankly fair. Strange how the same people who have criticised the club for allowing players to leave for nothing are now suggesting the club should do so with bart.

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BrettenhamBlue added 13:24 - Jul 8 I thought Bart would leave this season so not surprised about this link. But am surprised about; (A) The Fee (B) replacement Ben Amos. (C) lack of players. We should be signing not selling!!!
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