It has been kept as no secret that Birmingham City are willing to sell two of their current first team goalkeepers in this current transfer window as manager Garry Monk looks to rebuild his squad ahead of the new Sky Bet Championship campaign.
Almost two weeks ago, Vital Birmingham reported that David Stockdale had been placed on the transfer list as Blues look to cut their wage bill down a notch or two and with the former Brighton and Hove Albion keeper on around £40,000-a-week, it was always going to be the case that he would be one of the first out the door should the wage bill have to be cut.
Subsequently, fellow Championship side Leeds United are now interested in a move for the 32-year-old, who kept seven clean sheets last season for Blues and with the White failing in a move for Manchester City youngster Angus Gunn, they have now fully turned their attentions to Stockdale.
Elsewhere, fellow goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak revealed over the weekend that he has also been told that he is free to leave the club this summer after moves to Newcastle United and Derby County were rejected in January as he was still needed at Blues.
With two out of the three first team keepers being told they can leave, that now leaves Blues with just Connal Trueman so strengthening in this department is likely to be high on the priority list.
So, with goalkeepers in demand, here are three that I think Monk should be considering this summer…
1. Rob Green – Huddersfield Town.
The 38-year-old may seem like a bit of a weird choice but having played just one single game since his move to the Premier League side last summer, with that appearance coming in a 5-1 win over Newport County in the Carabao Cup back in August, he may well be looking to move elsewhere.
Green and Monk worked together during their time at Leeds United and the former England keeper may well want to link-up once again with his former manager.
With the 2018/19 season potentially being his last in professional football, a move to the second city may be something that tempts Green and with the potential to play in cup matches and coach the younger keepers, Green may well be a sound investment.
2. Alex Smithies – Queens Park Rangers.
The Hoops keeper is somebody who has already been linked with a move to St.Andrew’s this summer and it is a link that at the moment isn’t going away fast.
And rightly so because it is expected that Monk will make a move for the 28-year-old before the start of pre-season so that he has plenty of time to work with him and build him into the style of play that he wants to use going into the new season.
With Queens Park Rangers in a little bit of financial trouble, as are Blues I must point out, they are in the position to sell so this could work in favour of both parties in the long term.
3. Angus Gunn – Manchester City.
Gunn is a player who has already been mentioned, with Leeds reportedly interested in the young shot-stopper but it remains unknown as to whether or not the Premier League champions want to loan the 22-year-old out again next season or keep him around their first team to learn off Ederson and Claudio Bravo, both of whom are terrific goalkeepers.
The England Under-21 star kept an amazing 16 clean sheets last season whilst on loan at Norwich City last season and is sure to be attracting the interest of many teams in the Championship and in the top tier as well.
Although this one would be a long shot for the Blues, I believe that it would be a shot worth taking.
Of the three players that have been suggested Blues fans, which one would you most like to see the club make a move for? Let us know in the comment section down below!