Three players Birmingham City should be desperate to keep in League One

Birmingham City are still coming to terms with relegation to League One and difficult conversations are taking place behind the scenes. In addition to the eight uncontracted players whose futures are uncertain, a number of those under contract could be moved this summer.

Some of these decisions will be made by the Blues after a season where expectations have not been met, but others will be made by players who do not want to drop down to League One. The Blues have a number of players with international careers to protect and the third tier of English football is probably not good enough for selection.

There is an ideal world though, where the Blues could hang on to their best players. After all, many of last summer’s signings committed to long-term contracts that can’t just be broken.

In the “relegation post-mortem” episode of the Keep Right On podcast, Alex Dicken, Brian Dick and Ben Hawker each named a player they would like to see stay at St Andrew’s this summer. Check out their selections below…

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Brian Dick

“I don’t expect Paik Seung-ho to be here next season, but obviously he is the closest thing the Blues have had to a central midfielder who is the fulcrum of the team – a technical and relatively physical player and mobile. Paik is the one I’d love to see lining up for the first game of the season away to Stockport in August!”

Alex Dicken

“I would also keep Paik. There are two more for me, one of which is Krystian Bielik. I highly doubt he will be interested in a season in League One. I know he had other offers on the table last summer, some from abroad and some from other Championship clubs, and he didn’t want to go to League One previously with Derby County because he thought it would hurt his chances of making the Polish national team. team.

“I would be surprised if he went down but he has two years left on his contract so the Blues hold most of the cards. Bielik is capable of playing centre-back and has probably been the club’s most consistent player in the games he has played there this season. He has been the best centre-back this season and one of the best midfielders – certainly the best holding midfielder. It would be an absolute coup if the Blues could convince him to play in League One, even if it’s just for a season.”

Ben Hawker

“Both of those feel pretty hard to keep and would be on my list as well. The one I will go for would be Lee Buchanan at left back. I think he’s been superbly consistent this season and has stepped in to play at centre-half at times and hasn’t looked massively out of place. The Blues hold all the cards as he has signed a five-year deal.

“I don’t think the club is in a position where we have to sell players to balance the finances. The club owns the cards and it’s up to them if they want to stay. In the very near future there needs to be a “Are you on the journey with us in League One or are you out?”. If they’re not, then the club can make arrangements to move those guys, whether it’s permanent or just short-term. The worst case scenario would be if some left in August and the Blues would struggle to replace players of that quality. Those are the decisions you want resolved or in the works by early summer.”

Who is the one player you would like the Blues to keep? Have your say in the comments section HERE