Birmingham Linked With Further Bialkowski Bid
Thursday, 12th Jul 2018 13:04

Birmingham City are reported to be ready to make an improved bid for Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

As reported earlier in the week, Town turned down a £2.75 million offer from Garry Monk’s club for the 31-year-old.

Now, according to HITC Sport, they are set to offer the Blues £3 million for the Polish international.

Birmingham’s situation is complicated by reports that they are currently subject to a transfer embargo, which both the club and the EFL are refusing to comment upon. The two parties are believed to be in talks aimed at resolving the issue.

Reports elsewhere are linking Birmingham with a shock move for Manchester City’s Joe Hart. The odds of the England goalkeeper returning to the club where he was on loan early in his career are as low as 2-1 with one bookie.

Birmingham already have David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak on their books but both have been told they can move on this summer.

Town are keen to keep hold of Bialkowski but the former Southampton and Notts County man has only a year left on his contract, the Blues having taken up an option to keep him for a further season at the end of the last campaign.

But Bialkowski is still to put pen to paper on the new deal ex-boss Mick McCarthy said had been agreed in January.

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

We understand Evans wants Bialkowski, who is currently away from the club following the World Cup, tied down to a new deal rather than risk losing him for what would be a cut-price fee this summer or in January, or for nothing this time next year when he would be a free agent. Talks are expected to resume shortly.

Summer interest in Bialkowski, Town’s Player of the Year for the last three seasons, had been widely expected due to his contract situation and with Crystal Palace - whose interest we understand has cooled more recently - having targeted him in January.

Meanwhile, a crowd of 5,400 watched England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia in the FanZone at Portman Road.

Photo: TWTD

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

Page:
1
2
3

Dog added 13:10 - Jul 12 Mash potato
0

robmonkey007 added 13:10 - Jul 12 nob of birmingham
1

toxtethblue added 13:10 - Jul 12 Don't blame em. They know we sell as well as undervalue our best players so why not take advantage?
2

BlueBlood90 added 13:12 - Jul 12 Upping their offer from £2.75m to £3m? Are they having a laugh? Double it or we shouldn't even consider it. Hopefully Bart will get back to pre-season, like the way Hurst is doing things and realise that Birmingham would be a side ways step at best and sign a new deal.
15

runaround added 13:14 - Jul 12 I really don't think any player or club should deal with Birmingham City until their situation is clear.. I have visions of us agreeing to sell Bart to them & then they cannot pay us for him. Would be a silly move for the players too
5

Len_Brennan added 13:15 - Jul 12

Prior to the looming transfer embargo I would have thought a 'sideways at best' move would be very unlikely for Bart, even with increased wages (outside of being offered a Premier League salary anyway. But surely he would not be foolish enough to give up on all he has here in order to join a club that has so much uncertainty hanging over it at a time when so much restructuring is required.
For what it's worth, if a Premier League club comes in for him, where he is likely to get a good shot at playing first team football and they offer £3.5m+, I'm sure he'll be off and I wouldn't begrudge him the opportunity. After Christmas he'll be able to agree a move next Summer for free, so we have to be realistic.

Northstander_Blue added 13:18 - Jul 12 Noooooo not today just getting over last night
2

blue90 added 13:25 - Jul 12 3 mil and Stockdale wouldn't be the worst outcome. Would be a strange move for him as I don't consider Birmingham to be a club that is going anywhere far in the immediate future. Hope he stays.
-2

tempzzzz added 13:33 - Jul 12 Best player at the club who has won player of the season, 3 years on the bounce? Double his wages and get him to sign a 3 year deal with a £5m release clause minimum! We CANNOT let him for pitiful amounts such as £3m! Especially to a mid bottom table club in the same league as us! Premier league comes calling and he'll be off, and who could blame him.
5

jimmyjames added 13:41 - Jul 12 "Town's Player of the Year for the last three seasons" says it all. Pls town end this nonsense.
2

RoyalAscotBlue added 13:42 - Jul 12 3 mil and Stockdale would do just fine, but I'd rather we kept Bart. Mr Evans needs to step up and get things sorted, one way or another! We cannot start the season without a nailed on goalkeeper... and I never did believe the dinosaur when he said that Gerks was just as good so he is not an option in this debate.
4

runningout added 13:44 - Jul 12 we don't want or need either of the Brum keepers
1

essextractorboy93 added 13:46 - Jul 12

DO NOT SELL! Would rather we keep him for 1 more year and he leaves on a free, but in an ideal world lets give him that improved contract! I expect he wants to stay but its just we need to improve his terms. Birmingham would be a step down even if he gets paid more. Unstable club who have been embroiled in financial problems and relegation battles in the last 2 seasons. Find it bizarre they are getting rid of Stockdale, always rated him

RoyalAscotBlue added 13:46 - Jul 12 We can all see it can't we. 2 days before the season starts and Birmingham have their embargo officially lifted and Bart leaves for 2.5m. We have no time to get a replacement in and start the season completely on the back foot. You cannot let that happen Marcus!
2

ArnieM added 13:54 - Jul 12 Still won't sign his 6 month old contract then eh!!
3

planetblue_2011 added 14:00 - Jul 12 Why on earth would we sell Bart to Bham for? Surely he would want to stay here as well. Just hurry up Marcus Evans get him on 25k a week & end of!! Need to keep him, Waghorn & Huws a co.
1

Northstander_Blue added 14:00 - Jul 12 West ham are interested aswell
0

TractorBoyTommy added 14:01 - Jul 12 Lets be honest Birmingham will be a step up for the lad. Birmingham are a big club, who wouldnt begrudge Bart for wanting to move to a nicer area in the second city and be playing infront of 30,000 each week. My predictions they will be dark horses for promotion. We should take the money and run
-21

ArnieM added 14:11 - Jul 12 Get a decent offer for him ( not much now as into last year of contract) or sell him and get what we can. He clearly doesn't want to stay or would have signed this “ agreed in January” contract that's been in the table. Sorry but Bart is playing the game regarding contracts and getting what he can money wise. Why wouldn't he ?
3

rfretwell added 14:23 - Jul 12 Tractorbiytommy you're a joke
5

casanovacrow added 14:26 - Jul 12 Do Birmingham know something we don't about a release clause? The initial offer that we rejected is insultingly low, regardless of only a year left on his contract, and this isn't much improved so why would they think the answer would change?
1

TractorBoyTommy added 14:36 - Jul 12 @rfretwell how am I a joke. Look at Birminghams recent history, won a major trophy, premier league football, played in Europe. When was the last time we achieved any of that?
0

blue90 added 15:10 - Jul 12

@tractorboytimmy they have a better recent history but i'd argue we're in a better position than them now especially considering their off-field situation.
Regarding a nicer area i'd have to disagree with that too. Last time I was in Birmingham a guy banged on our car window for no reason and told us not so politely to leave the vicinity, without any provocation. Plus, you obviously haven't been to AST in Ipswich. Lovely place.